I Need Some Help!

Pastor: Jeff Love

Some Assembly Required

There are few phrases more intimidating than these: “Some Assembly Required.” Maybe you’re great at putting things together, or maybe you know someone who is. Most of us, though, look at the box full of parts and instructions and think, this is going to be painful.

Life can feel the same way. Sometimes it’s not about a bookshelf or a piece of furniture—it’s about an idea, a relationship, or a command from God. We know what the end result should look like, but the process of getting there feels confusing and overwhelming.

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches us how to “assemble” our lives with wisdom. He warns us to be careful in making judgments, to remove the plank from our own eye before trying to deal with someone else’s speck, and to use discernment when we evaluate people by their fruit. But then He gives us another critical step: prayer.

Ask. Seek. Knock.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

When relationships are complicated or we don’t know what to say or do, Jesus tells us to bring it to God.

• Ask — Keep asking God for wisdom.

• Seek — Look for clarity and truth that only He can provide.

• Knock — Wait for God to open the right doors at the right time.

This isn’t about treating God like a genie or expecting Him to give us everything we want. It’s about trusting that our Heavenly Father knows what is good for us and delights in giving it. “How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

The Golden Rule

Jesus ties all of this together with one simple but powerful principle:

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

When we’re unsure how to respond, the Golden Rule gives us a filter:

• Would I want to be on the receiving end of what I am about to do?

• Would I want to be on the receiving end of what I am about to say?

If the answer is yes, then proceed. If not, stop and rethink.

Putting It Together

The Christian life is full of “assembly required” moments. Conversations we don’t know how to start. Decisions that feel too complicated. Relationships that stretch our patience and grace.

But we’re not left to figure it out on our own. God gives us His Word, His Spirit, and the promise that when we ask, seek, and knock—He will provide. When we combine prayer with discernment, humility, and love, the scattered pieces of life begin to fit together into something that reflects Jesus.