我和妻子打算舉辦一個派對，隨著時間將近，我們不免憂心：有很多人要來，我們是否要向餐館訂購食物？如果我們自己預備食物，是否要買一個烤肉架？縱然那天不太可能會下雨，但我們是否也應該買頂帳篷？如此一來，這場派對的花費就會變得越來越高，而且也沒有給其他人機會參與預備的工作。我們樣樣都想自己來，就錯失了接受他人幫助的機會。

對於基督徒群體，聖經的教導是要我們為人付出，也接受別人的幫助。即使是在人類墮落之前，亞當也需要幫手（創世記2章18節）。聖經教導我們要參考別人的建議（箴言15章22節），也要讓別人分擔我們的重擔（加拉太書6章2節）。在初代教會中，眾人「凡物公用」，彼此分享「田產、家業」（使徒行傳2章44-45節）。他們不會獨善其身，而是美好地相互依存，彼此分享、借用、給予和接受。

最後，我們決定請每位朋友帶些沙拉或甜點來參加派對。鄰居帶來烤肉架，另一個朋友帶了帳篷。尋求幫助使我們與其他人建立更堅定的情誼，而眾人準備的食物也更多樣化，為大家帶來更多樂趣。在我們的這個時代，若樣樣都能自給自足，可能會讓人心生驕傲。但上帝「賜恩給謙卑的人」（雅各書4章6節），包括謙卑尋求幫助的人。

As our party approached, my wife and I started planning. With many people coming, should we pay a caterer to cook? If we do the cooking ourselves, should we buy a barbeque? With a small chance of rain on the day, should we buy a tent too? Soon our party was getting expensive, and even a little antisocial. By trying to provide everything ourselves, we were missing an opportunity to receive the help of others.

The Bible’s vision of community is one of both giving and receiving. Even before the fall, Adam needed help (Genesis 2:18), and we’re called to seek others’ advice (Proverbs 15:22) and share our burdens (Galatians 6:2). The early church held “everything in common,” benefiting from each other’s “property and possessions” (Acts 2:44-45). Instead of living independently, they shared, borrowed, gave, and received in beautiful interdependence.

We ended up asking guests to bring a salad or dessert to our party. Our neighbors brought their barbeque, and a friend brought his tent. Asking for help enabled us to forge closer relationships, and the food people made brought variety and delight. In an age like ours, being self-sufficient can be a source of pride. But God gives His grace “to the humble” (James 4:6), including those who humbly ask for help.