“If I should accomplish this mission—I mean—might I perhaps win my wings?”
—Clarence to Franklin
Every human being faces challenges and when we do, we need to link up with compassionate people. There are times we desperately need help from people who care about us. Maybe we need an empathetic listening ear; to share and talk about the challenges we are facing and how to address them with faith. Perhaps we need financial help due to an emergency for something we never saw coming. God takes care of us and provides for us through loving and compassionate servants.
Therefore, we need to be those people who seek to help others. Giving hope and help to others is godly work; therefore, we please God. When we extend ourselves to help others, we end up being the most blessed. Givers are sent from God, because they temporarily step up to, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Believers are discipled to live with the heart of Jesus for the glory of God. After all, we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39).
In our lesson from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the angel, Clarence, really wants to gain his wings—something that has eluded him thus far. It is his desire yet to be fulfilled. However, although Clarence’s motive is to seek something for himself, he has not lost his desire to be a giver who helps others. In fact, he is eager to be of help to someone struggling with life. Clarence does not allow himself to be so focused on gaining his wings that he minimizes the joy of being a part of lifting the soul of a man on earth.
The bridge tollhouse conversation between George and Clarence is very special and reveals a true heart of compassion—taking action in order to alleviate the suffering of another. Clarence tells George he is an angel and he has come from heaven to help him by pretending to need help [rescuing from the water] himself. Clarence elaborates, “I knew if I were drowning you’d try to save me. And you see, you did, and that’s how I saved you.”
By jumping in to help someone else struggling, we somehow are saved, as well. When God sends us to be a source of support to others, we must remember many times God is using the situation to bring to us what we need, as well. With God it is always a win/win situation. Jesus demonstrated and taught his disciples that, “…it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Act. 20:35). People who are givers are the most contented and happy people to be around, because they have apprehended and applied the truth of God’s mission—helpers who help are helped!
OT Reading: Psalm 37:3-4 NLT “Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
NT Reading: John 3:16 NLT “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
NT Reading: Philippians 2:4 NLT “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson today on having a compassionate and empathetic heart. Help us to listen and move to help others in need. We know you flow through your sons and daughters to do so; therefore, please don’t let us miss our opportunities to bless someone else. In fact, Lord, help us to start living as givers in every area of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.