It’s Armani
For some of us, being a Helper is the most important part of our identity.
We’re tuned into other people, and we want to make sure everybody’s needs are met. We love to be needed, and we’re proud of being considered indispensable.
Living as a Helper can be a beautiful thing, for us and for others. It can be an amazing way the presence of a gracious God is experienced in the world.
It can make real the words of Paul from Romans 5:6, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Years ago, a good friend of mine gave his kidney to a stranger.
That’s all there was to it. Help. Grace. No strings.
Years later, the recipient of the kidney travelled cross-country to attend my friend’s wedding. He spoke at the reception. It was beautiful.
But, then again…
There’s this episode from the old sit-com Seinfeld where a little-known stand-up comedian named Kenny Bania gives the more famous Jerry Seinfeld an Armani suit for free.
“Well,” Bania says to Seinfeld, “I guess you can take me out for a meal. It is, after all, ARMANI!”
So, multiple times Jerry takes Bania out to eat, but each time Bania says the meal doesn’t count as The Meal. (He just had soup, the place wasn’t nice enough, etc.)
Bania clearly isn’t helping. It’s tit-for-tat; it’s scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. It isn’t grace.
As Helpers, are we ultimately motivated by grace?
Do we know we too have needs others can help us with if we’ll just share them?
Do we know we’re loved (especially by God), even when we can’t or won’t help?
Do we know there are some things that aren’t ours to do?
For some of us, being a Helper is the most important part of our identity.
We’re tuned into other people, and we want to make sure everybody’s needs are met. We love to be needed, and we’re proud of being considered indispensable.
Living as a Helper can be a beautiful thing, for us and for others. It can be an amazing way the presence of a gracious God is experienced in the world.
It can make real the words of Paul from Romans 5:6, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Years ago, a good friend of mine gave his kidney to a stranger.
That’s all there was to it. Help. Grace. No strings.
Years later, the recipient of the kidney travelled cross-country to attend my friend’s wedding. He spoke at the reception. It was beautiful.
But, then again…
There’s this episode from the old sit-com Seinfeld where a little-known stand-up comedian named Kenny Bania gives the more famous Jerry Seinfeld an Armani suit for free.
“Well,” Bania says to Seinfeld, “I guess you can take me out for a meal. It is, after all, ARMANI!”
So, multiple times Jerry takes Bania out to eat, but each time Bania says the meal doesn’t count as The Meal. (He just had soup, the place wasn’t nice enough, etc.)
Bania clearly isn’t helping. It’s tit-for-tat; it’s scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. It isn’t grace.
As Helpers, are we ultimately motivated by grace?
Do we know we too have needs others can help us with if we’ll just share them?
Do we know we’re loved (especially by God), even when we can’t or won’t help?
Do we know there are some things that aren’t ours to do?