Can One Be Too Helpful?

Can One Be Too Helpful?

I wonder if it is possible to be too helpful? Can our helpfulness actually make life more difficult for others? Yes, if we are being bothersome, intrusive, smothering, manipulative, or controlling. If the help we are giving is driven only by our own anxiety, we may be simply attempting to help ourselves How then can we really know if our heart and acts of service are truly symbolic of God's unconditional love? How can we love from pure motives? (Proverbs 16:2)

In prayer we can ask God to show us any way we are hurting or hindering others (Psalm 139:23-24). We certainly ask God to help us show love that "suffers long and is kind; is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Our efforts to help others, especially those we love the most, will never be completely from from anxiety. But we can, by God's grace, begin to love freely with no strings attached, as God Himself loves. The true test, and the measure of our progress, is the way we react when our "helpfulness" is unrecognized or goes unrewarded (Luke 14:12-14).

Jesus, help us to love with pure motives and for the good of others. Help us to love unconditionally, expecting no one thing in return. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me. (Psalm 139: 23-24). In our desire to help, let us love with pure motives.