SERVICE TO HUMANITY MAXIMIZES YOUR ADVANTAGE
You simply begin to live your true life and you will be able to take advantage of every little resource you have only at the moment you begin to live a life of service. You might not have money, or not get married or have no child, but you can still live an effective life. For you to live an effective life, you must live a life of love. You must be motivated by love. Some people are motivated, not by love for humanity but by love for self. Anyone who is thinking just about himself or herself will be blind to all the great potentials in his or her life that could have been maximized to live a life of impact. Instead such a person would be living a miserable life.
You hear a lot of people complaining about their lack of money. What they do not know is that having money is not the problem; but knowing the right things to do with money is the real deal. The Creator needs everyone who believes in Him to be a millionaire at the very least so that you will be able to use your money for Him and His purpose. He wants you to make money so that you can use it to bless others. Your entire motive should be directed by love. Everything behind your actions should be love – love for people and love for your Maker. You cannot be busy loving others with everything you have and still be crying about all the disadvantages in your life. A life that is full of love for humanity is one that is full of the joy of fulfillment; and such is an effective life. I like us to examine a very interesting story:
“25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? How do you read it? 27 And he answering said, You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself. 28 And he said unto him, You have answered right: do this, and you shall live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you. 36 Which now of these three do you think was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” – Luke 10 v 25 – 37
The story described in the scripture above is what is popularly known as the story of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer was tempting the wisest man (Jesus) that ever lived, questioning him as to the best way to live (doing only the things that are of eternal consequences). It was not that he did not know the correct answer. Hence, Jesus answered his question with another question, “what have you always read in your law?” He answered by saying “You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus approved his answer as correct and he told him: “do this and you shall live”. This in essence means that if you want to truly live on this earth, and not just be existing, you need to love your Creator and love your neighbour. And as vividly illustrated in the illustration of the Samaritan man, everyone around you who is in need is your neighbour.
The reason why many people have not been able to maximize their lives is because they have only been focusing on their own needs and disadvantages. They are just seeking to live for themselves and their own families. They do not realize that in order to live an effective life, you need to put God first, and then make sure you love your neighbour as yourself. No matter how poor or disadvantaged you think you are, you still have many things that other people need. You can still show somebody some love; even something as simple as a hug can make somebody’s day. When you are complaining and crying about not having shoes, some people do not even have legs. You can show someone some care and some love. You can start from where you are. If all you will focus on are the things you do not have, you will never get to live an effective life.
In the Good Samaritan’s story, when a priest and a Levite saw the robbed and the wounded man, they passed by without doing anything. This is the same way many people live their lives today. All they are concerned about is their own lives; they do not think about anybody else. The priest and the Levite in the illustration were not much different from today’s Christians. They ignore people in need around them but rather take their money to church. They prefer to go sow a seed in church for financial breakthroughs rather than helping someone they find in need on their way to church. They rather choose to do eye service and feel important and recognized in their religious places by giving tithes and offerings but living the hungry unfed, the naked unclothed, and abandoning the prisoners in their distressed lives. You cannot truly love and just bypass by the people that are in need. If you could bypass the needy and even bring trillions of dollars to the church, it is a waste. It is just the opposite of love, and no matter what you do without helping people who are in need, you are not living an effective life.
To be continued Tomorrow, don’t miss it!
Excerpts from the Book “HOW TO LIVE AN EFFECTIVE LIFE”. #DSABOOKS
This book can be found on dsabooksplanet.com and Amazon.com
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHURCH AND NATION
BY DR. SUNDAY ADELAJA
