There’s something about helping others, sharing their burdens, easing their pain, that does something inside your head and heart.
Turning away from your own problems
Psychologically, when you help someone, your thoughts turn away from your own problems—if only for a short period. That’s the beginning of your own healing and a healthier lifestyle.
It begins there and continues to a deeper level. Innately, when we help others, we feel inside that this was something we were born to do. It’s one reason we aren’t simply predatory animals.
Where did this good nature come from?
Do a Bible search on “helping others,” and you’ll see dozens of verses about helping and loving each other. Coming from the Old and New Testament, such thoughts go back 2,000-3,000 years and are the foundation of the world’s three biggest faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Other world faiths have similar concepts. The Buddhist philosophy centers on karma, compassion and cooperation. The Hindu ideal is a duty to help others, with compassion a second nature, and in treating people equally.
I believe we’re all created by God, and God put that desire to help each other, to love one another, within us. As a Christian, I can rejoice that Jesus says “this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). It’s our belief that Jesus loved us so much that he willingly sacrificed his life on the cross so we could have eternal life.
The Apostle James’ good words
Deep wisdom comes from the words of the Apostle James, who writes that “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
From that simple idea can come true joy. Start with that simple concept and see what develops within you.
In our blog, we’ll occasionally recommend various ways we can help each other.
Please consider helping Ethiopia’s widows and orphans (James 1:27)
Our specific passion is our ministry here with Ethiopia-Empowerment. We welcome you to explore this one way to help others.
