Most of us want to be
helped. We appreciate when others help us get what we want. None of us can make
it alone. It is not selfish to desire the goodwill of others. However, we’re
created to help others. It is in our giving, not
our receiving, that life becomes fulfilling.
Calvin Coolidge said, “No man was ever honored for what he
received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” We all know people
who are constantly seeking their own. They are me-driven. Sometimes they just can’t
help themselves. What they need is a mind-shift. As long as we stay focused on
ourselves, we’ll never experience the joy of helping others.
In the early eighties, my
two brothers and I were new to the country of Nepal. We had left our motherland
to help people in the Himalayas. Nobody knew us and we were a struggling
ministry. At this infancy stage, Charles Mendies, lovingly called "Chaldai" (big brother Charles) came
to our assistance. He helped us call for a breakfast inviting all the Christian
leaders of the country. We introduced ourselves and our purpose and,
overwhelmingly, a majority of them accepted us as co-laborers in the ministry.
Chaldai even paid for the breakfast in the newly built, three-star, Himalayan
Hotel.
I say this to the glory of
God, and to honor Chaldai but what followed over the
years is history! My brothers and I went on to minister in over 150 countries
touching millions of lives. And we’re still at it. It all started with Chaldai
believing in us when we weren’t credible. He had a high reputation but he put
it on the line to endorse the Anderson brothers. Not only did he put us on the
national stage but he was instrumental in helping to channel the millions of
dollars coming into our hands to reach the world with the Gospel. How grateful we are for Chaldai! We’ll be
forever thankful to him and his family for pushing us up.
When you help someone up a
mountain, you’ll find yourself close to the summit also. If you want others to
improve, let them hear the good things that you think and say about them.
People live up, or down, to or down to how we view them and what we say about
them. Everybody needs to feel the wind beneath their wings to believe that they
can fly. Anyone can find the dirt in people. It takes a genius like Chaldai to
dig for the gold in others. What means the most in life is what you’ve done for
others. Albert Pike said, “What we do for
ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is
immortal.”
This is what happened to
David in the Bible. He came from a humble background. When David was anointed
to be the next King of Israel, nobody believed in him – not even his own
family. Eventually David made it to the palace but King Saul was jealous of
him. He spent a significant part of his life trying to exterminate David. Saul
would have been successful had Jonathan not been keeping David informed about
his father’s plans to kill him. Jonathan was King Saul’s son. He was next in
line to become king but he sacrificed his own royalty so that David could
become the next king of Israel. Eventually, David went on to become one of the
greatest kings of Israel while Jonathan was killed on the battlefield. It may
sound unfair but nobody can associate David’s rise to the throne without
mentioning Jonathan’s role to put him there. Many of you mothers should take
courage from this. You may think all you do is endless diaper changes, clean,
cook, and repeat but never forget the big picture. You’re not just raising a
child but a husband, wife, leader, preacher, businessman, politician, and a world
changer! Your love, tears, and sacrifices are not in vain. Jonathan pushed
David up and what history he made!
We all need a Chaldai or a
Jonathan in our lives. At the end of his life, Alexander the Great said, “We all suffer.
They all came to the end of their time and in the end, when it's over, all that
matters is what you've done.” J. M. Barrie said, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of
others cannot keep it from themselves.” What you make happen for others,
God will make happen for you. One may read the Bible but thousands read you and
me. You may be the only Bible others will ever read. It is the duty and
privilege of every Christian to help others get better. Multitudes followed
Jesus everywhere He went because our Lord always left people better than He
found them. We should do the same. The best exercise for the heart is to reach
down and to lift someone up. Today, let’s find someone to help. I love you and
I believe in you!
“Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will
receive back from the Lord”
(Ephesians 6:8 ESV).
Increase Your Influence: www.buildinternational.org
