SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Co Author: Franklyn Owusu Acheampong

There comes a time in our lives when we need help. This means every one of us can be helpless, the more reason why we have to come to terms with the fact that, all that man has is man. Sometimes the only thing you need to accomplish your goal(s) is support. Support is so significant in our lives such that we sometimes fail to identify and utilize the ones we have. I see it like a system; in the sense that it can be interwoven throughout one’s life that he/she may fail to recognize some of them. Let’s see how this brief article helps us.

The Gift of Men 

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady until sunset. – Exodus 17:12

Israel faced the Amalekites in battle. The direction was that Moses would have to climb a mountain to lift up his hands (with his staff) during the battle. Once his hands came down, the Amalekites prevailed; when the vice versa happens, Israel prevailed. As old as he was, Moses wasn’t able to keep his hands up the whole time; so his support system – Aaron and Hur came in to help. They made him sit on a stone and they both held his hands up; one on each side until Israel prevailed. He took them with him to the mountain top because he knew he would need support. When you are climbing up in life, you need not go alone. Your support system could be those you climb with.   Apart from the Lord’s rod in his hands, Moses knew the men that make up his support system – Aaron, Joshua, Hur, Jethro, and Zipporah. You need to know and acknowledge the people in your life that constitute your support system. In that way, you’ll know who to contact when (those you can count on). God has intentionally placed them in our lives; we need to recognize and ‘utilize’ them. Otherwise, you won’t be able to do much.

Why would the Son of God (Jesus) who had so much power need support? This is because he was man! He needed support just like we do. His disciples, the women in his ministry (Luke 8) were all part of His support system. He needed a place to have his last supper, he knew who to contact (Matthew 26:18). Simon of Cyrene had to help him carry his cross because he was weary (Matthew 27:32). Joseph of Arimathea had to offer his tomb for his burial (Mark 15:46) because he was part of his support system. The Apostles needed deacons to serve on tables as a support to their ministry (Acts 6:2-3). It took the believers’ prayers (intercession) to get Peter out of prison (Acts 12:5). David couldn’t have chalked all those military successes without his mighty men (1Chronicles 7:10ff). Men (humans) are gifts – a great support systems from God!

The Gift of Things

There are things in your life – items, animals etc. that are not humans, but can constitute your support system. When I was a kid, we had a dog called Hope. One day my dad woke up to hear loud barks only to find out it had been struggling to prevent a cobra from entering our room. The snake was delayed by the dog until my dad killed it. Hope was part of our lives’ support system then. In the Bible, Moses had a rod and performed miracles with it during his mission to the ‘Promise Land’ (Exodus 4:20). David had a slingshot that helped him kill Goliath (1Samuel 17:50). Elijah had the ravens to feed him when there was drought (1Kings 17:6).

Out of his numerous cameras, a photographer can fall in love with a particular one because it has supported him a lot. Examine your life and identify the things God has provided to support you and your purpose here on earth.  Once you do, your attitude towards them change. If everyone is able to do this, our attitude towards the environment would change. 

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What Shall I Say Then?

2Peter 1:3 says “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness...” Support systems are God’s divine provision for life. God has a support system ready for you at any point in your life because you are here for a purpose – His purpose. There are people and things in your life that are supposed to support you to succeed; your ability to recognize them will save you from undue struggles. Pray to God to show you the gift of men and the gift of things that constitute your support system at any point in your life.

May the Lord mend our nets!