Barack Obama, the former 44th President of the United States once said: “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” Thoughtful words indeed for one to reflect upon.
Jesus once said: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? ...” (Matthew 25: 35-40)
Incidents occur globally which can significantly affect many. Natural disasters often happen without warning for which there are no apparent reasons or control. Famine, drought and disease feature prominently within this sphere, with sometimes devastating results. Climate changes can also increase problems which are difficult to overcome.
Customarily, people in life hope and pray for the good nature of others in times of need. Without this kindness, they can be left isolated. Hebrews 13:16 reminds us "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Helping others in times of need is to live by the wishes of God. For some, personal and unforeseen circumstances can dramatically change their lives. It can cause a transformation from a life filled with happiness to one of misery and hardship. Life can suddenly become tough and may sometimes appear intolerable. People can feel total despair within themselves. Perhaps the only option left is to become dependent and totally reliant on the good deeds of others. Without these, they may have nothing.
No-one should be left alone to face troubled times, the consideration of a little comfort or a listening ear can make a big difference. It can help them feel that they don’t have to face the problems of life on their own. We should remember that a trouble shared is a trouble halved, which is the first step forward on the road to recovery.
Luke 6:38 clearly states: "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Just as the Good Samaritan did on the road to Jericho, we also should stop to offer a helping hand in times of need. Give what we can, no matter how little, for a little can mean a lot and it can make a tremendous difference in enhancing someone’s life.
There once lived an affluent businessman who had succeeded well in life. Through his negotiations and good business sense, he had become a multi-millionaire within a few short years by investing extremely wisely in several innovative projects.
He lived in a beautiful house set in several acres of land which included a stream with an abundance of fish and was situated in an extremely picturesque position. Much of his wealth had been invested in stocks and shares with a renowned company, centred in London. Due to a fluctuating economy, the business that he had invested in suddenly experienced financial problems which eventually resulted in its liquidation and the value of his shares fell to a worthless amount. He had become destitute overnight. He had to sell his lovely house to provide the necessary funds to live. Life had suddenly become extremely hard through no fault of his own. One day, when he was walking through the park, wondering what to do with his life, he saw an elderly gentleman sitting on a bench by himself and so he decided to join him.
The two began to chat and during the conversation, it emerged that the elderly gentleman had also lost his wealth due to an unscrupulous confidence trickster who had played on his trusting good nature and taken him for everything he had, before disappearing. The elderly gentleman informed him that his son had offered him a partnership in a newly acquired shop situated near the coast for a modest investment of £2500, provided that he would be prepared to run the shop on behalf of his son who would then be free to explore other ventures. He continued: "It is very sad for me, as I would love to accept my son's offer, it would give me a new lease of life, but I just don't have that kind of money and could never hope to raise it."
The once affluent businessman thought deeply and told the elderly gentleman that he didn't have much money, but he was prepared to lend him the necessary £2500 to provide the funds for his new venture with the proviso, that if he made a success of it, he would eventually repay the money. The elderly gentleman was amazed and readily agreed to the proposal with much gratitude and told his new benefactor: "To you, I am a stranger, who you know very little about and yet, you are prepared to help me at considerable risk of financial loss to yourself. I would like you to know that I appreciate this so much. You have demonstrated much kindness. Never before in my life has anyone ever shown me that much trust and confidence in something that I wanted to achieve." He then assured him that he would do his best to comply with the request.
The new shop became such a success, that not only was the £2500 repaid within a year but in addition, the good benefactor was also offered the managership of a second shop which had been purchased from the profits, together with a good annual salary. He proudly and sincerely told his benefactor that "One good turn deserved another."
Proverbs 19:17 had been realized in that “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.”
Life is about sharing what we have and giving to others. It may be in the form of allocating our time to a particularly good cause or perhaps donating some money to a worthy charity who tries to help those who are suffering the misfortunes of life. Caring for the sick or elderly can be of paramount importance in their respective lives. Things can be done in a hundred different ways. But whatever it is, if we give it freely and within the love of God, then we are achieving a real purpose and truly accomplishing a life worth living.
Amen.
