這是令人心碎的一幕。有五十五頭領航鯨集體在蘇格蘭海灘擱淺。有許多志願者試圖拯救牠們，但最終牠們還是死了。沒人知道為何會發生諸如此類的大規模擱淺事件，這有可能是鯨魚強大的社群連結所導致。當一頭鯨魚陷入困境，別的鯨魚都會前來相助，這是出於關懷的本能，但沒想到最終竟釀成悲劇。

聖經明確地教導我們要彼此相助，但也要你我憑智慧行事，例如：當有人犯了罪，而我們想要挽回對方時，應格外小心，免得自己也陷入罪中（加拉太書6章1節）；當我們愛鄰舍時，也要好好地愛自己（馬太福音22章39節）。箴言22章3節說：「通達人見禍藏躲；愚蒙人前往受害。」當我們要幫助他人卻反倒傷害自己時，這節經文便是很好的提醒。

幾年前，有一對極需幫助的夫婦來參加我們教會的聚會。不久，許多有愛心的會友都為了回應他們無數的需求而精疲力盡。最終我們的解決方案不是將他們拒之門外，而是設定界限，以免讓幫助者過於勞累。即使耶穌這位最終極的幫助者，也會把握時間休息（馬可福音4章38節），並確保眾門徒不會為了幫助別人而心力交瘁（6章31節）。遵循耶穌的榜樣就是明智的關懷。從長遠來看，要先維持自己的健康，才能提供更多的幫助。

The sight was heartbreaking. A pod of fifty-five pilot whales had stranded themselves on a Scottish beach. Volunteers tried to save them, but ultimately they died. No one knows why mass strandings like this occur, but it could be due to the whales’ strong social bonds. When one gets into trouble, the rest come to help—a caring instinct that can ironically lead to harm.

The Bible clearly calls us to help others, but to also be wise in how we do so. For example, when we help restore someone who’s caught in a sin, we’re to be careful that we’re not dragged into that sin ourselves (Galatians 6:1), and while we’re to love our neighbors, we’re to love ourselves too (Matthew 22:39). Proverbs 22:3 says, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” This is a good reminder when helping others starts harming us.

Some years ago, two very needy people started attending our church. Soon, caring congregants were burning out responding to their cries. The solution wasn’t to turn the couple away but to put boundaries in place so helpers weren’t harmed. Jesus, the ultimate helper, took time for rest (Mark 4:38), and He ensured His disciples’ needs weren’t displaced by others’ needs (6:31). Wise caring follows His example. By tending to our own health, we’ll have more care to give in the long term.