The gift of helping in the Bible, also known as the gift of assistance, appears in 1 Corinthians 12:28.
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
It is not clear from the text exactly what this gift of helping means. But we all understand what it means to help someone, and how help can come in many different forms.
We should all help one another, but God gives some people a special ability to recognize needs and help in the best way. Even leaders need to be helped on some occasions. The apostle Paul received valuable help from a man named Epaphroditus, sent by the church in Philippi while he was imprisoned.
Various other spiritual gifts flow from this will to help, which is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The gift of helping interacts with other gifts to function:
We have, for example, the gift of administration, which is also a way of helping. God gives some people the ability to organize and manage. This is a very important gift because managing the activities and finances of a church is not an easy task. The prophet Daniel became very influential, not only because he interpreted dreams but also because he had the gift of administration.
The gift of giving is also a way of helping, both brothers and sisters, and the church itself. We should all contribute to the church according to our abilities. God gives some people the ability to contribute a lot, supporting various ministries. The church in Macedonia helped other poorer churches and several women helped Jesus financially.
Finally, love, the greatest gift God gives us. Without love, no other gift has value. Love helps us use all our gifts in the right way. We should all seek more of the gift of love. Without love, it is impossible to help.
Seek more of God's gifts: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Biblical Explanation and Meaning)