 Ciara Lilly is a Charlotte-area writer. Her faith-based column, Fishers of Men, is published here each Monday. Opinions expressed are solely her own. |
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (NIV)
I would wager that everyone has at least heard the above scripture, and some may even have it memorized. But here’s the part I want to focus on: For God so loved the world that he gave…
As evidenced in John 3:16, the greatest expression of love is through giving. Think about it; God expressed his infinite love for us by giving the best gift he had — his Son. He freely gave a gift that was priceless.
We, too, can emulate love through giving.
Maybe you’re unable to give money, but you can give something that’s even more precious — your time. If your time is limited, give your advice. I have found that we should never discount the power of giving. What appears as a small act of giving to some may have a huge impact on many.
We all know that the holiday season is approaching, and many people do all their good deeds during this time of the year. But why not express your love through random acts of giving 365 days a year. If you knew that your gift might positively affect someone’s life, why limit that occurrence to only one day a year? One amazing gift provided salvation for the world. Imagine the influence we could have if we all did our part and continued to pay it forward!
Here are some ideas to motivate your giving spree:
1. Offer the gift of prayer: Go to your local hospital and ask ill patients if you can pray with them.
2. Buy a homeless person lunch: But don’t stop there; actually eat with them. You never know the last time they had a person to talk to. By doing so, you’re giving them the gift of nourishment and friendship.
3. Volunteer your time or services: If you have a free weekend or a skill that you’re not using, invest it into a worthy cause. You will have no problem finding an organization in need of dedicated volunteers.
4. Donate blood: If you’re able to give blood, you’re able to save a life. And this is one gift that doesn’t cost a thing.
5. Give advice: Your experiences and life lessons birth wisdom. It’s our job to share that wisdom with people who can benefit from it. It’s possible that one piece of advice, just one nugget of wisdom, could leave an imprint on someone’s life.
