Looking for better opportunities more often is self-centered, and its motivation is to acquire happiness. A famous Chinese proverb says: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
Opportunities to help are God-given opportunities for us to do his will. It is He who is working in us both in will and act (Philippians 2:13). Helping others can be just around the corners like assisting your elderly grandfather, serving fresh fruits to a sick friend, and many other related opportunities where help can be extended. These great opportunities do not only promote social connection, but it is also allowing God to be at work in us. If you are in a situation where you can turn an opportunity into something great, grab that chance – Jack Canfield.
What does God’s Word say about helping others? Helping others is very Biblical. The Apostle Paul encourages us to treat others with humility and selflessness. This is to put the needs of others before our own, but this does not mean you completely ignore caring for your own needs since you cannot help other people when your own life, health, or other concerns are at stake. But remember, we are called to help more than just one person. Believers are called to help “others,” serving the needs of many individuals and not only one individual. This means that our helping hand is not out of conceit and selfish desires, but out of humility, valuing others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). Helping others fulfill the law of Christ and our sacrifices of doing good to others, sharing what we have pleases the Lord (Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:16). The Apostle Paul likewise encouraged Christ’s followers to weary not of doing good for at the right time we will reap the harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). It is an obligation of a Christian believer to do good while we have the opportunity (Galatians 6:10), not just occasionally or out of compulsion.
Many times, the Scripture mentioned deep concern for the needs of the poor. Proverbs 19:17 says: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.” Giving help to the poor honors God and this is where God’s light shine through (Matthew 5:16). The term lend in the prior verse implies that God will repay to those who are generous. God’s repayment does not necessarily mean earthly material wealth but more on spiritual blessings. When you focus on helping other people, you are assured that God assumes responsibility for your problems and needs. That’s a real blessing! Blessings others will come back to you (Luke 6:38). This very act of helping foreshadows what Jesus said that whatever help we are doing for others we’re doing it for Him (Matthew 25:40).
Greater opportunity to help is not limited to temporal things but most importantly on the things concerning eternal, our spiritual. For sure, many souls are still lost within your sphere of influence. If you’re a follower of Christ, there is a mandate from God’s Word to be a witness for Jesus where you need to seek for that opportunity to share God’s salvation to others. Jesus said, “you shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). Since you cannot share what you don’t have, you can help others to have the same state of maturity as a Christian, by considering the following:
- Equip yourself with God’s Word. Equip yourself daily with God’s Word. Commit yourself to memorizing the scripture and this is the greatest thing you can do to help others to have a knowledge of God and His son Jesus Christ. The book of the Lord is complete and none of these will be missing (Isaiah 34:16). You can never be ready to share the gospel unless you embrace the discipline to memorize and meditate on God’s Word (Ephesians 6:15; 1 Peter 3:15).
- Create a prayer list of souls to be won before the Lord. Identify who among your friends, immediate family members and relatives who needs Jesus. Write down the names of those that you know need Christ and commit to pray for them every day. Ask the Lord to use you to personally reach them. Remember, that a prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
- Share your testimony and walk the talk. Share your story how you came to know the Lord and what it meant for you. Your story can be so powerful next to the power of God’s Word that will minister to the hearers. We are living epistles written not with ink but by the spirit of living God said Paul (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). We can be living testimonies being read by everyone if our way of life is really anchored in Christ Jesus. Those who will never listen to a sermon will listen to your story and might be encouraged on your good way of living.
As a follower of Christ, continue to find greater opportunities to help others to know Christ and draw them closer to God. Your role is only to share and not to save a person. The saving aspect belongs to the Lord, but the person has a free will accept or reject. Don’t be discouraged whenever Christ’s salvation is rejected because even before the foundations of the earth, He already knew who would accept Him or not (Ephesians 1:4).