The concept of being helpful is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible, emphasizing the importance of serving others, offering assistance, and living a life that reflects the love and compassion of God. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that highlight the value of being helpful to others, both within the community of believers and to the world at large.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding the importance of being helpful. In Leviticus 19:18, the Israelites are commanded, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This commandment underscores the principle of treating others with kindness and offering help when needed.

The book of Proverbs is replete with wisdom on the benefits of being helpful. Proverbs 3:27 advises, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is within your power to act." This verse encourages believers to seize opportunities to assist others, highlighting the moral obligation to be helpful when one is able.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament further expands on the theme of helpfulness, particularly through the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches the importance of serving others in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:16 states, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Here, being helpful is portrayed as a way to reflect God's glory and draw others to Him.

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of being helpful in his epistles. In Galatians 6:2, he writes, "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This verse highlights the communal aspect of the Christian faith, where believers are called to support and help each other in times of need.

The Example of Jesus

Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of helpfulness. His ministry was marked by acts of compassion and service. In John 13:14-15, after washing the disciples' feet, Jesus says, "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you." This act of humility and service underscores the call for believers to be helpful and serve others selflessly.

Practical Applications

The Bible encourages believers to be helpful in practical ways. In James 2:15-16, the apostle challenges the church, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, 'Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,' but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?" This passage stresses the importance of tangible acts of help, not just words of encouragement.

Furthermore, the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) illustrates the call to help those in need, regardless of social or ethnic boundaries. The Samaritan's actions demonstrate that true helpfulness transcends cultural prejudices and is rooted in genuine compassion and mercy.

Conclusion

The biblical call to be helpful is a reflection of God's character and His desire for His people to live in community, supporting and uplifting one another. Through the teachings of Scripture and the example of Jesus, believers are encouraged to actively seek opportunities to serve and assist others, thereby fulfilling the law of love and embodying the gospel in everyday life.(a.) Furnishing help; giving aid; assistant; useful; salutary.5624. ophelimos -- useful, profitable
... useful, profitable. From a form of ophelos; helpful or serviceable, ie Advantageous --
profit(-able). see GREEK ophelos. (ophelima) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5624.htm - 6k5809. Azzur -- "helpful," three Israelites
... 5808, 5809. Azzur or Azzur. 5810 . "helpful," three Israelites. Transliteration:
Azzur or Azzur Phonetic Spelling: (az-zoor') Short Definition: Azzur. ...
/hebrew/5809.htm - 6k

44. Abiezer -- "my father is help," a Manassite, also a Benjamite
... Abiezer. From 'ab and Ezer; father of help (ie Helpful); Abiezer, the name of two
Israelites -- Abiezer. see HEBREW 'ab. see HEBREW Ezer. 43, 44. Abiezer. 45 ...
/hebrew/44.htm - 6k

8454. tushiyyah -- sound, efficient wisdom, abiding success
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition sound, efficient wisdom, abiding success
NASB Word Usage deliverance (1), helpful insight (1), sound wisdom (7 ...
/hebrew/8454.htm - 6k

3270. Yazer -- a place East of the Jordan
... Jaazer, Jazer. Or Yazer {yah-zare'}; from azar; helpful; Jaazer or Jazer, a place
East of the Jordan -- Jaazer, Jazer. see HEBREW azar. 3269, 3270. ...
/hebrew/3270.htm - 6k

5836. Ezri -- "my help," an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Ezri (1). Ezri. From ezer; helpful; Ezri, an Israelite -- Ezri.
see HEBREW ezer. 5835, 5836. Ezri. 5837 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5836.htm - 6k

A New Library of Helpful Volumes for Bible Students.
... A New Library of Helpful Volumes for Bible Students. The Beresford Books.
Uniform Size, Crown 8vo. Uniform Binding, Half-Bound Style. ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/a new library of helpful.htm

Some Helpful Thoughts on Consecration
... CHAPTER XI Some Helpful Thoughts on Consecration. The experience of sanctification
is obtained upon the conditions of definite consecration and faith. ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xi some helpful thoughts.htm

Of Two Ghostly Devices that be Helpful to a Ghostly Beginner in ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER Of two ghostly devices that
be helpful to a ghostly beginner in the work of this book. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the two and 2.htm

The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful for the ...
... Book II. Chapter 16."The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful
for the Understanding of Figurative Expressions. 23. ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 16 the knowledge both of.htm

The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church
... He indulges the hope that it has been found helpful and sends out this edition with
a prayer that it may prove more valuable than did the former. JB Tidwell. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gerberding/the way of salvation in the lutheran church/

Whether Isidore's Description of the Quality of Positive Law is ...
... expressed the quality of law in three conditions, saying that "law is anything founded
on reason, provided that it foster religion, be helpful to discipline ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether isidores description of the.htm

Books on Introduction, Bible Dictionaries and Related Works.
... Both works are stimulating and helpful, but must be used with discrimination. ... Very
helpful in differentiating the Gospels; defends the Traditions-hypothese. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/i books on introduction bible.htm

Making and Breaking Connections.
... Personal experiences are intensely interesting, and often helpful. ... In this connection
it will be helpful to note the significance of the word baptize. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on power/making and breaking connections.htm

Conclusion.
... of a liturgy in public worship, plainly indicates that in the judgment of the Church
of that day the use of liturgical forms was not only not helpful, but was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/johnston/presbyterian worship/chapter x conclusion.htm

The Power of Prayer
... It is always helpful to us to fix our attention on the GOD-ward aspect of Christian
work; to realise that the work of GOD does not mean so much man's work for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter i the power of.htm

Helpful (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Furnishing help; giving aid; assistant; useful;
salutary. Multi-Version Concordance Helpful (6 Occurrences). ...
/h/helpful.htm - 8k

Helpeth (9 Occurrences)

/h/helpeth.htm - 9k

Helping (35 Occurrences)

/h/helping.htm - 17k

Commentaries
... article of the work of commenting, and of the literature to which it has given rise;
the attempt can only be made to follow the lines most helpful to those ...
/c/commentaries.htm - 57k

Kindly (57 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Humane; congenial; sympathetic; hence, disposed to do good to; benevolent;
gracious; kind; helpful; as, kindly affections, words, acts, etc. ...
/k/kindly.htm - 24k

Kenosis
... with the upholders of the kenosis in its "classical" form that the Son, by an exercise
of His will, determined to be ignorant as man, is not helpful, as the ...
/k/kenosis.htm - 14k

Useful (14 Occurrences)
... (a.) Full of use, advantage, or profit; producing, or having power to produce, good;
serviceable for any end or object; helpful toward advancing any purpose ...
/u/useful.htm - 10k

Obliging (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Oblige. 2. (a.) Putting under obligation; disposed to oblige
or do favors; hence, helpful; civil; kind. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/o/obliging.htm - 7k

Onesimus (2 Occurrences)
... ONESIMUS. o-nes'-i-mus (Onesimos, literally, "profitable," "helpful" (Colossians
4:9 Philemon 1:10)): 1. With Paul in Rome: Onesimus was a slave (Philemon 1:16 ...
/o/onesimus.htm - 12k

Reconcile (10 Occurrences)
... In the last case, Matthew 5:24, the word is not used in a doctrinal sense, though
its use is very helpful in considering the force of the other terms. ...
/r/reconcile.htm - 29k

What is soul care? What is care of the soul? | GotQuestions.org

What is a Bible concordance, and how do I use it? | GotQuestions.org

How do I choose a good Christian counselor/therapist? | GotQuestions.org

Helpful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus