Reach Out To Others
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, Being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!
-- Philippians 2:5-8
When you die what do you think people will say about you? Seriously. This is not a Journalism 101 exercise. It’s for real. Because what people say after someone dies probably reflects the very best of that person.
So, what will they say? Maybe that you were a jokester and the life of every party. Maybe that you were a hard worker. Or that you never missed church. Or that you were a good husband or wife, a good father or mother.
What about how you treated others? Will people remember you as kind and compassionate? Will folks think of you as giving and eager to help? Or will they talk about all that money in the bank? Maybe they’ll mention the property you owned or the business you created. Maybe they’ll mention your expensive car or tailored suits.
The truth is we won’t be taking any of those things with us when we go. I know. I’ve heard the joke. You’ve never seen a hearse with a baggage rack. But you also don’t hear a lot of good things about folks who spent their lives only caring about themselves.
Most of us intend to do good things. We want to help. We want to show kindness. We want to see the good in people. We just never get around to it. We’re so busy living out our days that we never, ever make a ripple in this world. It is almost as though we never lived because we never touched the lives God put before us.
The world has so many needs. Just look around. Open your eyes. See the hurting, the lost, the hungry, the neglected. God created us all with different strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has the ability to reach out and touch lives. If only we would.
Sometimes we hold back because we truly don’t believe we have anything to offer. But we’re looking outward at others instead of inward toward what God created us to be. One dear woman visits the sick and dying. She carries food, provides rides, and generously cares for others. To her, she is simply doing what she does. To others, she is the face of Jesus in their darkest moments.
Anybody can offer a kind word. Most folks can bake a casserole or stop by the deli. Others can weed a flowerbed or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Maybe write a note or make a phone call. We each can do our part to make a difference, to reach out, to show others that God cares. Sort of like Jesus did. And how He still does if we truly live our lives as though He lives within us.
What do you think folks will say about you when you die? Strive to live a life that draws others to Christ.
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