help the weak, 1 Thessalonians 5:14c

Obviously a phrase like this can be left to broad interpretation, but it need not be.

If you’re in a position to help someone, do it without pride, an attitude, or with fanfare. This applies to finances, manual labor, administrative work, or just encouragement (in keeping with the previous phrase in this verse). Help anonymously if you need. Don’t worry about not “getting credit” for helping when you do it anonymously. Your good works are seen and recorded, though not as means to salvation. Only Jesus has provided the means to salvation.

Similarly, if you are in need of help, and someone offers, be humble enough to accept that help. It’s not always easy to ask others if they need help, and I realize it’s not easy to ask for help. But this is what the body of Christ is all about.

In a very different context, the former mayor of Chicago was asked about giving jobs to family and friends. His response, “If you can’t help family and friends, who can you help?”

The principle applies to the church.