Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” Maya Angelou
“The only way you can serve God is by serving other people.” Rick Warren
“Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.” Albert Einstein
“Happiness… consists in giving, and in serving others.” Henry Drummond
“Identify your divine gift and use it to serve humanity.” Lailah Gifty Akita
Trust me…I could have made this whole article about a list of quotes pertaining to Giving Back through acts of service because that is how important serving others is to me.
Giving back started in the home for me, so growing up, I always tried to find ways to do something for others. My mom and dad are givers and being around consistent giving is contagious. I can’t tell you the countless times that if there were other kids around and my momma wanted to give us a snack, every child with us received a snack.
The same thing happened during the holidays – my mom would buy extra gifts and place them under the Christmas tree. If family or friends stopped by, whether their visit was planned or not, they left with a gift. I have countless examples that I have witnessed that I could list. But, something I despise so much is the complete opposite of a giver – and that is someone who is selfish.
Do You Have a Heart for Giving Back?
Selfishness is such a pet peeve of mine.
Oftentimes, it’s hard for me to understand the heart of a person who is selfish when nothing we do can be accomplished ALONE…ever. Yep, I said it…think about that for a minute.
And now think about how impactful and powerful God could really use you if you used your gifts, talents, and abilities with the goal of helping someone else!
Being a giver and creating a life of service to others has been the most fulfilling part of my life. I take great joy in being a blessing not for acknowledgment or show, but because I am the child of the Most High God who gave the most sacrificial gift to us all – His son Jesus the Christ so that we may have life and have it more abundantly!
So, even if your parents never taught you what it means to ‘give to others’, you have one of the greatest examples in Jesus who gave unselfishly! I promise you, in some of my most hurtful, disappointing times in my life, I found ways to give of myself. And guess what? It took my mind off of me and put it on someone else in need.
It’s a feeling that can’t be explained and what ends up happening every time I do that, God replenishes my heart and restores my joy.
So, what’s the play call?
There are so many examples of giving in the Bible, but here are 3 scriptures that I love in reference to giving:
- In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
- Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
- A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
