Life isn’t all about doing what makes you feel good or makes you happy. We have a whole world of people around us who need help!
(If you’re not seeing anyone around you that needs help, you either live in a cave by yourself, or you are just not looking hard enough.)
Like most, I find myself around many different kinds of people. Some are kind, and some are not so kind; some are easy to get to know, and some difficult – some are believers and some are not.
For those who are believers, they need encouragement and fellowship, to help strengthen their faith and embolden their walk. As Proverbs says “Iron sharpens iron", and we should be that iron with our brothers and sisters in Christ; to sharpen them, and “build them up in the Lord.” The more we build up each other, the stronger the whole body of Christ becomes.
For those that are not believers, we need to show them by how we live that we are different (hopefully in a good way!). James said it well: “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” We should show them Christ through what we do and who we are, which will almost always plant more seeds than just words.
Those people we interact with who do not believe need to see examples of Christ’s disciples living their faith through words and actions. One of the most common complaints of non-Christians comes from the example they see from professing ‘Christians’ in their life. We must recognize that we are expected to be ambassadors of Christ. We cannot be living in God’s Will if we are only looking to please ourselves!
Now, I am not saying that all of us should start preaching – as much as I love our pastor, I believe many ‘laypeople’ are in a position to have greater influence than the average ‘preacher’. Remember, Jesus did teach and preach, but He also showed us what it looks like to live every moment in relationship with God, pursuing His Perfect Will.
That is the example for us, and while we will never be able to do it like Jesus did, we can certainly use His example to help us along the way. After all, we were never meant to walk alone through this journey, but to help others, and be helped.
Most of us can do these simultaneously. I find that often, when I’m “doing for others”, I benefit as much and sometimes more than the person I intended to help. This brings into practical terms the famous line from Scripture “It is better to give than to receive”. As I bless others, I receive a blessing. It is the ultimate ‘win-win’ scenario!
The very next verse from the book of Romans explains perfectly why we do this:
For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. (Romans 15:3)
The King of Kings – Jesus - “came to serve, and not be served”. He came to show us the way, and to take our infirmities on Himself, so we could walk in Him free from life’s burdens. Knowing this, how can we not try to do our part for others, so they can also “taste and see the Lord is good”?
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)
I don’t know about you, but I can see visible and ample proof of God’s blessings in every aspect of my life. The more I do for others, the more He seems to do for me.