It is good to want to help others. However, in our desire to be helpful, we must beware of hindering the other person’s development.
My desire for peaceful relationships is a good desire, but I sometimes find myself playing the role of middleman between people who don’t communicate well with each other. This might not be bad initially, but if I continue, they’ll never learn how to communicate directly with people in difficult circumstances. Instead, I should be encouraging them to work out their differences and learn how to be considerate of each other.
I also need to prayerfully evaluate whether or not to “rescue” someone from the consequences of their mistakes. That decision may depend on how eager the person is to change their behavior.
I once read this excellent quote: “How hard you work at correcting your faults reveals your character.” When the Lord shows me, either by personal insight or through the comments of another person, that there’s an area I need to work on, I pray for the strength and grace to do so. I need to be careful not to accidentally hinder another person’s growth by doing for them what they should be doing for themselves.
It’s amazing how many ways I find myself unintentionally hindering people when it’s my desire to help them. I must let them learn how to handle their mistakes and their relationships and quit trying to do it for them.
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