Do you believe that when we serve the poor we are actually also serving Jesus the Christ? Also in what ways do you serve others?
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Well, it depends. In church, I serve by cleaning, ushering and being ready to help with whatever in needed.
A way I serve is taking care of an orphan girl, as good as I can. I don't have a job, but I try to give her from my food when she needs, to help her with some needs, to talk to people about her needs...also, I sometimes help people with cleaning. I would really want to do more, but I don't have enough resources. But I try to do whatever I can with my hands. My dream is to have a shelter for human trafficking victims and to serve there.
If you opened the discussion-I am curious about a thing. In our country we have A LOT of beggars. Many of them drink their money. Many of them put their children to beg for them. Should you give money to a beggar? When I do have money, I buy food to the children (and most of the time they are not satisfied because they want money). I don't want to give them money because I don't want to encourage what they are doing, but to be honest, they are very discriminated in this country and few would give them a job. What should a Christian do in this case?
Thanks for the advice!
I really think it is so important to serve-Jesus said we must become the servants of all! But still, I also think that we should do this with the right heart and purpose-not because we want to achieve something (although I do not think it is bad to want rewards) but because we love and care for others. And everyone can do something- maybe somebody doesn't have the abitility to do something financiary, as I don't, but we can all do something practical. I think that many times, even the fact that we are near somebody who is hurt and praying for that person and listening to her is serving.
Also, there are many needs every community has and there is always a need for help. I think the most easy thing a Christian can do is to volunteer at a foundation that serves the community.
Can you tell me what do you understand by "serving"? Maybe we have different perspectives and I would like to know yours, if it does not bother you.
I could say it involves giving all my time and energy to another who is suffering and need. It does not matter if they are the poorest of the poor or an emperor. Love is not constrained upon such things. Love overcomes everything. To truly serve we have to accept that the person before us in need is as Christ Himself. I have done silly things like give my shoes to a poor person in his barefeet and walked home in the rain in my sock feet with people pointing at me as a crazy person. But did I care? Lol of course not. It felt like an honour and praise to God. But unfortunately few seem to have that degree of service.
True service means putting someone above yourself and doing everything in your power to quite simply be there for them in their suffering even if you cannot resolve their struggles. To simply be present with loving kindness
Very nice! I really love your understanding of service!
Thanks Forge this is one of my favorite subjects. It really pulls me out of my poor me mentality by causing/forcing me to concetrate on others needs. I once was the liaison for my church to sit on the board at a homeless shelter. I learned that not only street beggers use the money you give them in less than honorable ways but that the shelter took for granted that there was a certain percentage of the people they helpped really were taking advantage of the chairty that could of gone to less fortuneate people but there is no way of responsibly weeding them out. The thing I most liked about reputable charity organizations is how they can multiply the money given several fold. Let's say you gave a street begger enough money to buy a burger combo meal (assuming they actually spent the charity you gave them on food) well at most soup kitchen type establishment they could probably feed about seven people for the same amount of money. That's why when I feel led by the Holy Spirit to help the poor I feel satisfied that my money is being used in the best and most productive way. I rarely feel led to hand money to a complete stranger on the street.
It is one of my fave subjects to. And we as Christians need to discuss this more. Not that we are saved by works of course. Rather it is one way we may give back to the creator who has invested certain gifts in us.
Yes you feel moved to help others. That is Christ working in you. I pray for God's mercy on a sinner like me everyday. And because I assume Jesus is merciful I spend all my time being merciful to others not that I do this for credit lol. Rather I do this in turn as acts of thanksgiving for that mercy I assume he pours upon me daily. Service is about thanksgiving and celebration.
I have had so many ministries. I worked in a hospital as a student, with mental health patients, with the disabled, with the poor and also with addicts. They all have one thing in common...the need to feel loved. The same thing all need both rich and poor. So my ministry is about healing. Helping to heal broken hearts or broken arms. God is so graciouse to me in this way
You do what you can with the grace of the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding in you. It does not matter if you serve the poor as a Bishop or a plumber. God's love is not constrained by such things. The Word of God is quite simply love. So even if you have a desk job as an accountant you can still render service as equally as I with the poor. For love is quite simply love no matter how and where it is channeled. The summation of service to others is simply to love our neighbour as ourselves no matter what and to impart love even upon those we consider our enemies. This in itself is from Divine love.
We need a servants heart. There are many forms of 'poor'. They can be poor in knowledge and understanding. There can be poor in heavenly rewards.Do you believe that when we serve the poor we are actually also serving Jesus the Christ? Also in what ways do you serve others?
Dear Forge3. You had many good replies abour service, but I believe Jesus wants our Love as well. The best way to start this: Treat all we know and all
we meet, as we would love to be treated: kindly and with friendly words, helpfully
and trying to be a Good Neighbour. Jesus told us in Matthew 22, " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Love is very important to God and it is a strong weapon in a Christian`s hands
The Bible tells us " Repent," change from being selfish and unloving, to becoming: Loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. We have to be " Born Again," to become loving and caring as our
Heavenly Father wants us to be." All we say or do, all we advocate or stand for, should be from Love, Compassion, and Charity.
Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love, also. " Ask and ye will receive," ( Matthews 7, verses 7-10)
Then we thank God and share all with all around us. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will approve and bless us. God will also know, that we Love
God, because we are following His Commandments to love and care. We will keep on asking and thanking and sharing. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Loving and Caring.
I say this with love, Forge. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.
I am in agreement.We need a servants heart. There are many forms of 'poor'. They can be poor in knowledge and understanding. There can be poor in heavenly rewards.
IMO it is about refraining from trying to rule over others but serve them as we are called. You can serve by teaching the knowledge the Holy Spirit has shared with you.
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