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2010.03.06 TGIS Blog

Helping People in the Right Way (Posted by Ronnie)

Ice Break Time
This week, I was in charge of the ice break activity. I passed out paper slips for everyone to write one or two hints about the dream place they wish to visit.
Someone wanted to go to the Fiji islands, someone wanted to go to Hokkaido, someone wanted to go to the land of smiles, Thailand. It was fun to find out where each person wants to have their dream vacation.

Testimony by Wayne
Last week, Wayne emailed us a prayer request to ask us to pray for his mom. His mom was very ill and the doctors didn't give her much to go on. She had cyst on her liver and that's blocking the circulation in her body. Wayne and each one of us prayed for a miracle and God has given it! Wayne's mom's condition has gotten much better and up and walking. Thank God for healing her mom.

Testimony by Sou
Sou, age 20, returned to Japan last year, and came to Shalom church. Before that, he was studying in New York for seven years. He did not graduate from the high school over there, so he was searching for a school to attend in Japan. However, it seemed difficult for him to go to regular Japanese High School since his level would not catch up with the local curriculum. However, God guided him to Shinjuku Shalom church and he became the first student at Shalom's church Best Life School. Here, he received the education he need to pass the high school level exam last Nov, and just last month, he received the good news that he got accepted to the university he wanted. Thank God for Sou and his service at TGIS.

Message Time
Today, after introducing his new, ultra-light Bible contained in his IPHONE, Pastor Elmer gave the message about how people can help someone the right way and the wrong way. He talked about the book of Job.

When Job was struck with boils and grieving over the death of his children, Job's three good friends came over to sympathize with him and comfort him.

Job 2:12-13 ¹² When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognise him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.

¹³ Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No-one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

This is the right way to comfort a friend who is in pain. However, for the rest of the book of Job, for about thirty chapters, Job's three friends helped him in the wrong way. They judged Job, condemned him for bringing all these disasters upon himself, and they only made Job more indignant and self-justifying. However, in chapter 32, Elihu, a younger person, came out to point out Job's wrongs. Elihu was saying quite the similar things as the other three friends of Job, but one thing was different. Elihu spoke in a way that directed Job's attention and focus to God, leading Job to repentance.

The point of today's message is that when we try to help people, we should help them in a way that leads them to God, that allows them learn about the love and grace of God, and learn about how He can help us out of any problems. When we give advices our friends, we should base it on biblical scriptures and principles. Finally, always pray for your friends.