As a teenager, I had a strained relationship with my churchmate Lisa, so I was dismayed to learn we’d be roommates at our youth summer camp. The week at camp passed smoothly, though, with both of us being civil.
The most anticipated event was a bonfire gathering at the end of the week. On that evening, however, I had a fever. I went to bed early, but I could hear the laughter and music outside. An hour later, I was startled by Lisa, who was taking my temperature. “I’m not joining them at the bonfire,” she said. “You’re sick. I need to stay with you.” Lisa could’ve stayed uninvolved, but she chose to care for me, which lifted my spirits.
We see another example of someone who cared in the story of Naaman. The commander of the Syrian army, Naaman had an Israelite servant girl who’d been taken captive and now “served Naaman’s wife” (2 Kings 5:2). Separated from family and forced to servitude, the girl could’ve chosen to not help her master, who had leprosy. But her faith moved her to help: “She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him’ ” (v. 3). And God did, in fact, use the prophet Elisha to heal Naaman (vv. 8-14).
Lisa and the Israelite girl chose to help, and God worked through them. Let’s ask God to show us who we can extend His care to and give us the wisdom how.
Why might you resist helping others? How can helping others allow them to see God’s care for them?
Dear God, I’ve experienced so much help from You. Please use me to help others.
At the time of Elisha, Naaman was the only leper who’d been healed (2 Kings 5:1-14; see Luke 4:27). A young girl from Israel had been forcefully taken to a foreign country and was enslaved to serve Naaman’s household (2 Kings 5:2). It would’ve been understandable for her to rejoice that her enemy had leprosy. Yet, she told him that the God of Israel—through the prophet Elisha—had the power to heal him (v. 3). This is an example of “[overcoming] evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Galatians reminds us to “do good to all people” (6:10). Today, we can ask God to show us how we can show His love to others.
