In the holy land lived a man called Eliab, whom God had blessed with earthly goods. He was also cunning in all the wisdom of the East. But all this could not bring peace to his heart; he was often full of sorrow and wished to die. Then a man of God came to him, and showed him an herb possessed of wonderful powers of healing; but Eliab said: “What is that to me? My body lacks not health; my soul is diseased. It were better for me to die.” “The herb will do thy heart good,” said the man of God. “Take it, and heal seven sick men and then thou mayest die if thou wilt.” Eliab did as he was desired, and sought out misery in its abiding-places. He healed seven sick people and succored the poor with his riches. Then the man of God came again to him and said, “Here is an herb of death; now thou mayest die.” But Eliab cried: “God forbid! My soul longeth no more for death, for now I comprehend the meaning and use of life.” KRUMMACHER
There is no anodyne for heart sorrow like ministry to others. If your life is woven with the dark shades of sorrow, do not sit down in sorrow to deplore your hapless lot, but arise to seek out those who are more miserable than you are, bearing them balm for their wounds and love for their heart-breaks. And if you are unable to give much practical help, you may largely help the children of bitterness by listening to their tales of woe or to their dreams of foreboding. The burdened heart longs to pour out its tale in a sympathetic ear. There is immense relief in the telling out of pain. But it cannot be hurried; it needs plenty of time. If you can do nothing else, listen well, and comfort others with the comfort wherewith you yourself have been comforted by God. And as you listen, and comfort, and wipe the falling tear, you will discover that you own load is lighter. F. B. Meyer
5 comments:
I don't like the idea of helping other people to heal your own pain. That sounds suspicisouly like using them for therapy, doesn't it? I think the message is to take your focus off yourself, and that's a good thing. However, I stand by my previous implication that it is wrong to exploit the unwitting sorrowful for personal fulfillment.
I think the main point is that during those times when you just feel like crap about life or about yourself and you are indeed focusing a lot on your own problems, it is especially during those times that we should turn our focus towards others. When we are feeling down is when we feel the least like doing anything for anybody, but it's true that we experience joy when we serve others. I think the point is stop looking at yourself, make a lifestyle out of serving others and then you find joy in the midst of serving others. I think it's a natural byproduct of service. Then you end up serving because gosh darn it, you like helping people:)
NO!
I have met people who (I think) like hearing other people's problems because it distracts the hearer from his/her own problems. My point is this: that's not caring about other people. That's distraction, not concern, and it belittles legitimately caring people like you.
yes, i agree. there are people like that out there. but there are a lot who aren't like that too. People who care and are concerned, yet are still focused on themselves during a time and feeling really downtrodden. I guess I would say that it's during those times when we have a hard time (even those of us who legitimately care) serving others, it's then that we can continue to serve others. We don't need to have our lives all together in order to serve other people. That being said, i think you made an excellent distinction between being distracted (selfish) and having real legitimate concern. thanks:)
wasn't the wounded healer required reading for youth min? So of course I read it!:) ...riiiight.
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