Biblical Spiritual Gift of Helps

The biblical spiritual gift of helps represents one of the foundational supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers within the Christian church. This gift enables certain individuals to provide assistance and support to others in the church with compassion, grace, and a servant’s heart.

Understanding the Gift of Helps

The spiritual gift of helps appears in 1 Corinthians 12:28, where Paul lists it among the various manifestations of the Spirit given for the building up of the church. The Greek word translated “helps” means literally “to relieve, succor, participate in, and/or support”. This gift has a broad range of applications, from helping individuals with daily chores to assisting in the administration of church affairs.

Those with the gift of helps can aid or render assistance to others in the church with compassion and grace. This gift enables believers to identify practical needs and respond with appropriate support, often working behind the scenes to ensure that ministry continues smoothly and effectively.

Practical Applications

The gift of helps manifests in numerous practical ways within the church community. Some people with this gift are willing to “lend a hand” and do even the most mundane and disagreeable tasks with a spirit of humility and grace. These helpers often volunteer to work regularly around church buildings and grounds, frequently laboring in obscurity without seeking recognition or praise.

Others see helping as assisting widows, elderly members, or families to accomplish daily tasks. These individuals come alongside people to render assistance in areas where help is needed most. They provide a gift of service in the broadest sense, supporting and strengthening the entire body of Christ through their practical contributions.

Spiritual Dimensions

Beyond the practical aspects, the gift of helps has deeper spiritual significance. Since it is one of the spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit given for building up the body of Christ, the spiritual aspect may be even more important than the practical element. Those with this gift have a unique ability to identify people who are struggling with doubt, fears, and other spiritual battles.

These gifted individuals move toward those in spiritual need with kind words, understanding, and compassionate demeanor. They possess the unique ability to speak scriptural truth in ways that are both convicting and loving. Their words become “like apples of gold in settings of silver” to the spiritually weak and weary, as described in Proverbs 25:11.

Characteristics of Helpers

People with the gift of helps can lift hearts by helping carry various burdens that others cannot and should not carry alone. They demonstrate God’s mercy, grace, and love through their willingness to serve others practically and spiritually. These precious saints understand that their role is essential to the health and function of the church body.

The gift often operates through people who have servant hearts and find joy in meeting the needs of others. They may not seek leadership positions or public recognition, but their contributions are vital to the smooth operation of church ministries and the care of church members.

Biblical Foundation

The gift of helps reflects God’s understanding of human needs and His provision for meeting them through the church community. God knows all our needs and challenges and has given this gift to special individuals who can come alongside others in mercy, grace, and love. This demonstrates God’s wisdom in creating a body where different members have different functions, all working together for the common good.

The gift aligns with Jesus’ teaching about serving others and the biblical principle that the greatest among us should be servants. It embodies the love of Christ in practical, tangible ways that meet both physical and spiritual needs within the church community.

The spiritual gift of helps serves as a cornerstone for church health and community care. Through this gift, believers experience practical support during difficult times, receive encouragement in their spiritual struggles, and witness the love of Christ demonstrated through the hands and hearts of faithful servants.

References

GotQuestions.org articles on the spiritual gift of helps and practical ministry
1 Corinthians 12:28 from the English Standard Version
Biblical passages on serving others and meeting practical needs
Romans 12:6-8 and other spiritual gifts passages from Scripture