If we are to biblically help others, it makes sense to begin with a discussion of the Word of God itself. What role does the Word play in helping our brothers and sisters in Christ mature in their faith?
While the Scriptures have much to say about themselves- their origin, their nature, their function- two central themes emerge consistently relative to the work of the Word in a person’s life. First, the Word of God is central in imparting spiritual life. Numerous passages indicate this. Peter, for instance, intimately links being born again with the Word (1 Peter 1:23, 25), as does James (James 1:18). Our Lord too, links the two in his nighttime conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:11-12). In the Old Testament, we find the same connection: Ezekiel’s prophecy brings the dry bones to life (Ezekiel 37) and the psalmist cries out, “the Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Psalm 19:7; emphasis mine). Always the inception of spiritual life is linked to the Word of God.
Secondly, the Word of God is central in nourishing spiritual life. “Man does not live by bread alone,” our Lord teaches us, “but by every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). Life is not merely biological, but also spiritual. Further, like the biological, spiritual life must be fed and nurtured for it to be healthy and strong. Thus does Paul teach Timothy to be “nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6), the Greek here for “nourished” (ἐντρεφόμενος, a present participle) indicating a continual action of being fed by the Word of God. Indeed, Scripture abounds with similar metaphors relating God’s Word to food (e.g. John 6; 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:1; Psalm 119:103, 131).
These two principles are core to our helping others biblically. They teach us that spiritual life is not sourced in nor sustained by human ingenuity or worldly wisdom. If we want to grow and help others to do the same, we must be rooted in the Word.
What does this mean in practice as we seek to help others?
First: seek to nourish, not fix, others. Often our counseling and helping of others is “punctiliar” in outlook (focused on a point in time), rather than progressive- we seek to help people reach a definitive moment of growth, instead of realizing that soul health develops over time. When we grasp the biblical metaphor of nourishing, we use the Word of God in people’s lives more in line with the way the Scriptures present themselves.
Second, use the whole Bible. Every word of God is a source of nourishment for our souls. Just as the body needs a balanced diet, so too does our spirit. We must feed others (and teach them to feed themselves) with the entirety of the Scriptures. This means not only feeding them the parts, but the whole. Turkey is great on its own, as are mashed potatoes and stuffing. However, there is something wonderful about seeing the whole table spread out for Thanksgiving with all the different courses. All the dishes together are greater than any one single portion. So it is with the Word of God. The gospels are great books, as are Genesis and Revelation. Romans 8 is precious, as is Psalm 51. But only when we see the way each verse, passage, and book fits together and makes a whole will we find out just how delicious and nutritious the Bible is for our soul. Use the whole Bible.
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