“God has set certain in the assembly: first, apostles secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers … helps” (1 Corinthians 12:28).

WE MIGHT easily skip the little word, “helps,” in the list of gifts in the assembly. To us, apostles, prophets, miraculous powers, and tongues bulk large, and overshadow such a vague, undefined term as “helps.” We are equally liable to pass over as insignificant the persons whom God is using as “helps” in the gathering.

The truth is we are not always clear what is a “help”. We know the teacher because he teaches, the pastor because he feeds the flock, the overseer because he cares for assembly affairs. But the work of the “help” is not so easily defined. He is ready and willing to do anything needful and anything useful. Like a “help” on a farm, or in a house, he lends a hand to any job of work that comes along. He may be a feeble member of the body of Christ, but he is “necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:22).

The “help” is a kind and gracious person, quite incompetent to take any part in public ministry, but by his active sympathy and loving concern for others he often exercises a more powerful influence upon the spiritual well-being of the assembly than those who occupy a more prominent part.

Mostly, the “help” is no preacher nor lecturer. He is not able to explain or expound the Scripture at the Bible-reading. He blushes and trembles at the very thought of standing on the platform or at the desk to preach the gospel. But it does your heart good to see the way in which he opens the door for you, leads you to a seat, and hands you a Bible and a hymn book.

What a man the true “help” is! His heart is in his work. He is ready to do anything or everything to further the good cause. He carries about a genial brightness that makes him a most delightful element in all the activities of the assembly. He is never at a loss for a good word, and he is always ready for a good work. No matter what you want done, he is your man, and as often as not does it before you ask him.

The “help” is always busy, but never “cumbered about much serving,” which makes a person fretful, peevish, and unpleasant. Difficulties are nothing to him; he will go miles to read a chapter to a sick saint. He is not hindered in his happy service by other people’s crotchets and odd ideas about Scripture. He has no use for peculiar views. He pities the poor soul with “a bee in his bonnet,” but lends him a helping hand in the name of his Master, if possible.

The life of Christ is flowing through the heart of the true helper in the assembly. He is full of the joy of being Christ’s himself, that he cannot help loving all others who belong to Christ. His heart is free from all selfishness and worldliness. His spirit is fresh and bright in the presence of the Lord. He is a cheer and a comfort to his brethren without knowing it. Many a time it might be said of him, as it was of Moses, that he “wist not that his face shone.”

The love of Christ and of all his fellow-members is the simple secret of this effective “help”. The Spirit of God makes him, by his unobtrusive activity, a vital and a health-giving link in promoting the unity of that same Spirit in the bond of peace.

We have little idea how much the blessing of God’s saints and the progress of the gospel depend upon those persons—brothers and sisters—who are included in that comprehensive term—”helps”. God has set them in His assembly specially to undertake simple, lowly, and often unrecognized duties in service to those He loves.

But if the labors of the helpers are so often unnoticed now, the will be fully displayed and amply rewarded in the day of Christ’s glory. He will remember the cup of cold water given in His name. A few “helps” are mentioned in Scripture. Paul refers to brother Urbane, and brother Clement with some women (Rom. 16:9; Phil. 4:3), and others too, but not by name. This record is given to encourage other “helps” to go on their quiet way.

Another word for this class of workers is “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).

Let us, therefore, pray that though we come behind in the foremost gifts, God may maintain the supply of “helps” in our midst. Let each helper be diligent in his task of living not for self but for others. And let those who believe they are called to labor “in word and doctrine” remember that they are also called to support the weak and to comfort that feebleminded, not with an unctuous word so much as with a Christ-like deed.