May 8, 2020 – Click here to listen
Musician Joe Cocker recorded what would become a hit with a song with lyrics written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. The Beatles recorded the first version which was more upbeat in tempo than Joe Cocker’s slower and more soulful version. If we listen to the lyrics, it suggests that the words, “a little help from my friends” referred to drugs and alcohol. John Lennon claimed this was not about drugs, but many people didn’t believe him, including US vice president Spiro Agnew, who once told a crowd that this song was a “Tribute to the power of illegal drugs.” He said the lines, “I get by with a little help from my friends, I get high with a little help from my friends,” “Is a catchy tune, but until it was pointed out to me, I never realized that the ‘friends’ were assorted drugs!”
At this point in history with Covid19 ravaging the world the need for a whole lot of help from friends has probably never been more intense. The kind of help people need will not come from drugs or alcohol which will just exacerbate the situation and bring more grief. What is needed is spiritual help and Christ followers doing what they do best in loving others as themselves and demonstrating it. Each day I pray for people grieving the death of loved ones, those suffering with the virus, and those impacted financially. Aside from praying I’m contributing where I can. We helped where we could such as when we discontinued having our house being cleaned but kept right on paying them as if they had cleaned it at their regularly appointed time. If we have food delivered or pick it up at restaurants I tip twice as much as my standard 20% rate before.
The Jesus Alliance currently is conducting a drive whereby we are giving checks to needy people for $200 to be used to buy groceries or help out with bills. It’s not a lot of money, but we don’t have a lot of money and in fact sometimes struggle just to pay our own staff. The team is also obtaining food from practically anywhere we can and re-distributing tons of it to the needy. There are many groups doing similar work in the name of Christ and yet much more needs to be done. People are suffering and they need to know that they are not alone, and they have Christian friends, many of whom they have never met and may never meet. These are people that care about them. People like you . . .
I once was standing on a prison yard and had just finished witnessing to several hundred men. It was brutally hot that day and I was sweating profusely. One of the inmates came over to me and said, “you made all that money in your career and could be anywhere in the world enjoying life at this very moment; instead you are out here in this dusty yard in the sweltering heat talking to us about Jesus. Why?”
I replied, “There is nowhere in the world I’d rather be right now than standing here with you guys in an effort to give you what I have – Jesus Christ. The peace and love of Jesus is worth more to me than any material thing.” He looked at me like I had gone bonkers but smiled a big beautiful smile and told me, “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming today. I can’t speak for the rest of these guys, but you made a big difference in my life today; you gave me hope. I prayed the sinner’s prayer and asked God to forgive me and come into my life”
I just stood there and silently praised God for giving me that opportunity. (And yes my eyes were leaking a little.)
I wouldn’t trade that experience for ten trips to the French Riviera, Maui, and Tahiti. You too can experience the same thing. My good friend and our new CEO of The Jesus Alliance, Michael Phillips, was commenting the other day that there were so many people that needed help right now and he seemed almost frantic to help them all right now. I told him that this mess would not be over for some time to come and there will not be a shortage of people with needs and to be patient and just help who we can each and every day.
That was good advice for me, you, and all Christians. We cannot help them all, but we can help someone today. At your next opportunity give a jumbo tip, or offer to pray with someone who is hurting, or call someone who might have lost their job and ask them if you can help them somehow. NOW is the time to emulate Jesus . . . If the Lord has blessed you, bless someone else. Sacrifice as never before and give Jesus the thanks and gratitude, for it is through Him that we can love others, even those we don’t even know.
Hebrews 13:16
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday or watch it online!!!