Topic: “Vain is the help of man”
Bible Reading: Psalm 107-108; Romans 15:22-33
Memory Verse: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.” Psalm 108:12 (KJV) .
Seeking help is natural to human being and the Bible talks about this in Psalm 121:1 (KJV) when it says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” Your help can come from God, man or the devil. While it is generally understood that seeking help from the devil has several dangerous consequences, seeking help from men is seen to be natural given that we do things together and interact regularly but the word of God is quite clear that the true help of man comes from God who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). He is sovereign, all powerful and ever present. He sends help in most cases through men and it’s important to recognise that.
A story is told of a man who was praying fervently for God to bless him with a certain sum of money and a rich Atheist was passing by the church and out of curiosity decided to listen to the prayer of the man who was praying with so much passion and concern. When he heard him, he said to himself that he would wait to answer the man’s request just to buttress his own belief. When the man closed his prayer, the rich man called him and gave him the money he was praying for and the poor man thanked him and went on to thank God for answering his prayer. The atheist while laughing that he and not God answered the poor man’s prayer offered the man his call card but the poor man politely turned it down on the ground that God will send his answer to his next prayer using anyone and he did not want to depend on any man! The atheist was stunned but that is someone who understands the limitation of man.
This is why the Psalmist called on God in Psalm 108:12 (KJV), “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.” Sometimes man is ready and willing to help but he is limited by circumstances such that he is unable to help. On the other hand, man could decide not to help because you have offended him and so he withholds the help. At another time, man may help and uses that as a tool to hold you and keep you as his stooge but God is a helper that is not limited by time, ability or resource. So while seeking help from men, always focus on God as the source and not the man because vain is the help of any man!
Prayer point: Father, please send me help this day and put the devil to shame in the name of Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero