The Broken Tools

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   There once was a young man that lived in a small home... the man was not the best housekeeper, and as a result there often was some sort of small repair that needed to get done, but he usually never bothered with it. "I'll get to it eventually," he would think. "It's just a small repair, and I need to look up how to fix it properly anyway."

   

   Well this went on for quite a while. Eventually repair, upon repair built up and around his home.. and eventually those little things became big things. But he continued to ignore them.

One day one of his friends came over and to chat for a bit, as they chatted the friend mentioned some small repairs that needed to get done around his house. "Oh! Let me help you with that friend," said the man.

   

   The friend looked around the home and then back at the man, "I don't think you can help me, your own home is in disrepair!"

 "Nonsense!" said the man, "I can help you without a problem, let

me go get my tools."

   

   The man went outside to go get his tools.. but due to his lack of upkeep, and not using them, the tools were strewn everywhere, and many of them were broken or dull. After he collected them he went up to his friend. 

   

   When his friend saw the tools he carried he said to the man, "My friend! How can you possibly think you can help me when your own tools are things to repair and fix are broken!? You will be of no help and will only make things worse rather than fixing them!"

   

   The man though would not listen. His friend talked to him again, "You need better tools first my friend before you can help me, and even before then YOU yourself need help here before you can help others. How can you help others if everything in your own home is a shambles and falling apart?!"

   

   The man thought about it for a moment.. then said, "I see you're right my friend... my own home is falling apart.. I need to fix my own home before I go and help others.. If I have a clean and safe and well built place, I can offer shelter to those that need it while I help repair things in their homes."

   The man fixed his own home, then went out and began helping others. As he helped others, he realized how much harder it would have been if he had not fixed his own home and gotten new tools first. "Quite the mess that would have made," he often thought to himself. 

And from that point on, he always kept his tools at the ready, and his home in good repair.

~

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" ~Matthew 7:3

Often times our society, and even more so us as individuals, have a tendency to look at others and immediately try to see what's wrong with them and then try to come up with what they need to do in order to fix everything. Meanwhile, often times our own lives are so out of order and chaotic, that we really have no place to be standing and giving out tips on what they need or what they need to change.

 We as Christians should do two things. 

First: We need to look at our own lives, and we need to get things straightened out and fixed. 

The young man that has an alcohol addiction cannot go out and try to minister to other drunks and expect results. They will see his own life, and say, "he can't help us, he's just as bad off as we are."

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." ~ Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)

Second: We need to always make sure we have the abilities to help those we find.

This means a few things.

 1- We need to make sure that spiritually and mentally we are prepared for whatever else comes out from us helping these people. I'm not saying that every person needing help is going to be one of those people that are carrying tons of extra baggage and are going to be high maintenance, but it is extremely important that no matter what it is you are ready for it.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." ~ 1 Peter 3:15 a 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him." ~ James 1:5 

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you." ~ Jeremiah 1:17 a 

2- Make sure you are suited to handle it. 

   Believe it or not just because you're a christian does not automatically make you the answer to every little problem and every little thing that needs help. There are just some things that you have to leave for professionals. If you're not trained or equipped to handle that kind of stuff, don't bother trying to take it on. Refer them to your pastor, or a Christian counselor, someone who can help. 

There is one thing that no matter what is going on you can do. And that is pray. Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons we as Christians have, and we should be willing and able to wield it at all times of the day whatever we're doing. 

"The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous." ~ Proverbs 15:29

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." ~ Romans 8:26

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." ~Philippians 4:6  

As Christians we should take everything first to God, and trust that he will handle it and his will be done. In the meantime, we can keep those we want to help in prayer.

God Bless,

      Ryan