One of my sons needed direction on what to do with an acquaintance who was becoming suicidal in his thoughts. My first reaction was to ask after his parents. The reason I asked for his parents was because family members are about the surest support group we can get in times of crises. Your family holds it as a sacred obligation to look after your welfare. This is a good reason to take the advice of Isaiah seriously, that we do not hide from our flesh. I believe that the prophet was talking about family members. Unfortunately for the young man, I learned that he has lost his father. The stepfather cared little about him.

Those who distance themselves from natural and spiritual families have no one to run to in times of crisis. When you identify with families, you make an investment decision that will bring dividends in the future.

My next question was to ask which church the young man attends. It was a case of trying to see that in the event of failure of the natural family, his church family would be in a position to help him. Unfortunately, too, he is not one who has made a habit of the church. Usually, when people become suicidal, it is because they have wrong perspectives. A pastor can help put things in proper perspective for people, using the word of God as a guide. In addition to what a pastor would do, brethren in a particular local assembly can come in handy as an effective support group, much like what we enjoy from natural family. In our text, we learn of the need to “uphold the weak”. Those who distance themselves from natural and spiritual families have no one to run to in times of crisis. When you identify with families, you make an investment decision that will bring dividends in the future.