Serving

As the world remains amid the COVID-19 crisis, daily, we learn more and more about the struggles and misfortunes that many people face secondary to this pandemic. However, it is refreshing and heart-warming to hear of many people who have demonstrated compassion, kindness, and generosity towards individuals adversely impacted by this health concern. In the era we live in, where people may tend to be self-absorbed and not necessarily in-tune to others’ needs, I wonder what motivates people to demonstrate these acts of kindness.

Why we see this compassion demonstrated by others may be secondary to their faith and spiritual foundation, and as we turn to the Bible, we find many scriptural passages that encourage and compel us to be kind and helpful to others. John 15:17 (NIV) guides Jesus Christ regarding what we should demonstrate towards others: “This is My command: Love each other.” There are many ways that we can demonstrate love towards others: a phone call offering hope and support; a bag of groceries for a family in need; a thoughtful card with words of encouragement; helping to resolve a need that someone may have; a hug; prayers; holding someone’s hand; or some other unexpected act of kindness.

We have heard the phrase, “the Golden Rule,” which has a Biblical foundation. Matthew 7:12 (NIV) guides as stated by Jesus Christ: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” From my perspective, I would not do something kind for someone else expecting something in return: I would do something kind for another person because there is a need, we should demonstrate love, and this is what Jesus told us we should do.

One last thought is this: In the Bible, in the book of John, chapter 21, Jesus is talking with Peter. In summary, Jesus tells Peter: if you love Me, take care of My sheep and feed My lambs and My sheep. As we head forward during these troubling times, we may do so with these Biblical passages in our hearts and minds, which will help us demonstrate love and compassion towards others. As you head forward, how can you take care of and feed God’s lambs and sheep?

^{Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.}

A Faithful Sower

Scattering the Seeds of God's Word

Love One Another