Helps!

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12:28 KJV)

The powerful spiritual gift which is often overlooked

Chapter 12 of 1st Corinthians contains a list of spiritual gifts. As you read through them, you find big things like “miracles” and “healings”. Those are the demonstrative gifts you notice when people have them. But you see one gift on the list called “helps.” This gift is often overlooked, yet nothing in the church would get done without people having this gift! The person with the spiritual gift of helps is someone who tends to work behind the scenes to get things done. They will often do their jobs joyfully and take the responsibilities from others’ shoulders. They are the ones who come in early to set up chairs, prepare meals, clean floors, mow lawns, pull weeds, clean gutters, and do anything else that needs to get done. Without them doing the necessary background things, the pastor could not use his spiritual gift of preaching! In my opinion, helps is the most powerful spiritual gift of all!

Helper defined

“To give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; cooperate effectively with; aid; assist.” 

A helper bears the burdens of others 

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

A helper does acts of mercy cheerfully

“The one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Rom. 12:8 ESV)

A helper will be enriched

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Prov. 11:25 ESV)