Have you ever heard of how crabs act in a bucket? What happens if you put a bunch of crabs in a bucket crabs will inevitably try to escape. If they left each other alone or even better helped each other they’d easily be able to get out of the bucket. But, that doesn’t happen. Unfortunately every time one crab tries to climb out the others pull it back down.
Unfortunately we see this in human nature sometimes as well. When someone is feeling down how do we respond? Do we try to top their issues with our own and drown them out with our tales of woe? Are we just crabby and like to complain and pull everyone around us down? Or do we lift others up? Here’s a little trick; if you are feeling down and help someone else out. This often results in you feeling better.
How about if we hear something negative about someone? Do we jump on the bandwagon and fan the flame of negativity? Or do we quench this negative talk? We should be careful not to say anything that is bad. Say only good things that will help people. Then you will help to make them strong. You will help to give them what they need. And so, your words will be good for those who hear them (Ephesians 4:29 Easy English). We should cheer up those who are discouraged, and help those who are weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ISV).
We should never be guilty of pulling anyone down. Instead we should always be trying to lift each other up.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ISV So then, encourage one another and build each other up, as you are doing.
Galatians 6:2 BBE Take on yourselves one another’s troubles, and so keep the law of Christ.