Biblical Answer

Balancing Your Desire to Help Others with Your Own Needs

As a Christian, it is essential to recognize that our desire to help others should not come at the expense of our own spiritual well-being. In fact, helping others can often be a two-way street, where we find ourselves receiving help and support in the process. This is evident in the biblical principle of seeking advice and listening to others (Proverbs 20:18, 19:20). When we are willing to receive help and guidance from others, we become more self-controlled and self-motivated toward right action. This means that our motivation to serve others should come from a desire to love others and Jesus, rather than a sense of obligation or duty.

In order to maintain a healthy balance between helping others and meeting our own needs, it is crucial to prioritize our own spiritual growth and development. This involves cultivating a growing knowledge of Jesus and an awareness of our own spiritual neediness. We should not try to meet the needs of others at the expense of our own spiritual well-being. Instead, we should seek to serve others in a way that is God-centered and others-focused, rather than self-centered. As Jesus said, "Give what you have, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38). By giving what we have, we are not only serving others but also receiving a blessing in return.

In practical terms, this means being mindful of our own emotional and physical limitations when helping others. We should not overcommit ourselves or try to do too much, as this can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Instead, we should seek to serve others in a way that is sustainable and healthy for us. This may involve setting boundaries, saying "no" to certain requests, or seeking support from others when needed. By prioritizing our own spiritual growth and well-being, we can maintain a healthy balance between helping others and meeting our own needs, and live out our faith in a way that is authentic and sustainable. As the Bible says, "Always be willing to share and give to others. Explain that what your children do for others, they are really doing for Jesus" (Proverbs 19:17). By keeping this principle in mind, we can ensure that our desire to help others is balanced with our own needs and well-being.