Biblical Answer

Balancing Our Own Needs with Helping Others in Times of Crisis

Recognizing Our Tendency to Prioritize Our Own Needs

When disaster strikes, it is natural to prioritize our own needs over helping others. This is because we tend to feel more strongly the needs and hurts of our close friends and relatives than of strangers. However, as Christians, we are called to prioritize the needs of others, especially in times of crisis. This is a key principle of the discipline of serving others, which involves recognizing that our own needs are met as we serve others.

The Importance of Empathy and Support

The discipline of serving others also highlights the importance of empathy and support. When we serve others, we are not only helping them, but also being helped ourselves. This is a two-way street, where we receive support and help from others as we serve them. As the Bible says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). By serving others, we are not only helping them, but also receiving help ourselves.

Balancing Our Own Needs with Helping Others

So, how do we balance our own needs with helping others in times of crisis? The key is to recognize that our own needs are met as we serve others. By starting slowly and helping others set basic goals, we can work together to establish a structure that helps them in their time of need. We should also seek advice and listen to the advice of others, just as the Bible says, "A wise person seeks advice and listens to advice" (Proverbs 19:20). By doing so, we can balance our own needs with helping others in times of crisis, and experience the two-way street of receiving help ourselves as we serve others. As the Bible says, "As you help someone else, then get help for yourself. Don't do it alone" (Proverbs 20:18). By serving others, we can find a sense of purpose and fulfillment, while also receiving the help and support we need in our own time of need.