"and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
Isaiah 58:10
One thing I've learned over the past few years of my life is how good it feels to serve others. Do you ever go help out with something and when you're done you just feel so good about yourself? It's one of the best feelings in the world. Then again has your mom ever asked you to go do something to help her out and you roll your eyes and get really annoyed? That's one of the worst feelings you can have. I've done both things. The thing about Jesus is he came to us with a serving heart and served anyone and everyone that he could without a single complaint. That's how we should be. Jesus WANTS to serve us, he wants to help. Why are we so selfish to only want to help people when we feel like it? We should want to help and serve whenever we are needed.
When you think of serving others you probably think of washing cars, going to the homeless shelter, habitat for humanity, feeding the hungry, etc. and those are all really wonderful ways to serve in your community, but they aren't the only ways. When someone in your family is sick and needs something, go get it for them. When you see someone walking around with their hands full of things, go take some of it and help them. When you see someone getting picked on, go stand up for them. There are so many simple ways to serve others that we ignore every single day.
The other day I was at the gas station and this homeless man was sitting by a gas pump just minding his own business. I had already put all of my money in my gas tank so I didn't really know what I could do to help him. He looked hot and miserable and I couldn't think of a way to help him. This really nice jeep pulled up to the gas pump that the homeless man was at and gets out. He watches the homeless man get up and go sit at an empty gas pump. The man then walks over to the homeless guy and asks him if he needs any money. That's right, he offered money before the homeless man could even ask, how many of you have ever done that?? The homeless man says "No thank you, I just need to sit here and cool down for a minute." The guy says okay and goes to put gas in his tank. After he starts pumping his gas he goes into the gas station and I watch the homeless man throw up due to the heat and I started to cry and pray that God could help him because I couldn't. The man comes out of the gas station with a sandwich, a bag of chips and two bottles of cold water. He then walks up to the homeless man and says, "Here is some food and water, will you please come ride around with me in my air conditioned car. I know you won't take my money, but please just let me help you." They got into the vehicle together and left. I thought about that situation all day, astonished at the kindness of this man's serving heart and desperation to help the homeless guy. I don't know many people who would offer money without being asked, much less continue to help even when his first attempt at helping was turned down. Later that day as I was heading home I stopped at McDonalds to get my mom and sister dinner, as I'm driving thru I see the man's jeep. I went inside to order my food just to tell the man how good of a person he is when I saw him and the homeless man laughing and enjoying dinner together. That man spent the WHOLE day helping this homeless man and it's honestly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
That's what it is to have a serving heart and to help others. You should be happy to help others. If we had more people embracing a serving heart the world would be a much better place and I believe we would see more smiling faces. I challenge you to go out and find ways to help others. If we helped at least one person a day we could change so many lives. We are on this Earth to serve, not to be served, remember that. It's sad that so many of us view helping others as a chore. It is NOT a chore, but an opportunity! Helping others gives you the perfect opportunity to plant seeds in others hearts and share the gospel with them. Having opportunities like that is such a blessing and we should take hold of any opportunity that comes our way. Let's go be servants that bring light into this dark world. I promise it will make a difference.
XOXO,
Kirby Madyson
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