“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.  Living for others is a rule of nature.  We are all born to help each other.  No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy but much better when others are happy because of you.”

The same day I read this quote from Pope Francis, someone sent me this post: “If God is making you wait, then do what waiters do.  Serve.”

The photo to the left shows a man who stands outside the church Dave and I attend in Las Vegas.  Faithfully, each Sunday, he is on the corner after the service, smiling to every exiting vehicle.  Granted, he’s not on the stage preaching or singing, but his service is no less appreciated.

Ephesians 2:10 (TLB) says this:  God . . . has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. I have met people who say they “serve” in their church.  When I ask them how, they answer “by going to church” or “attending a Bible study.”  Those are good things to do, of course, but that’s not the message Paul intended for the Ephesians.           

What makes people prone to take care of their own needs and no one else’s?  Fortune Magazine ran an article and referred to Faith Popcorn, a New York City marketing expert, as the “Nostradamus of Marketing.”  Ms. Popcorn addresses a shift since Covid: “One of the major changes that is taking place in American culture is the ‘cocooning of America.’ It is looking for a haven at home – drawing their shades, plumping their pillows, clutching the remotes. Hiding . . . and everybody is digging in.”

Churches reflect this behavior as Christians choose to stay at home and “play it safe” on Sundays instead of obeying Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The bottom line is that we Christians must be inconvenienced for the Gospel.  We must be willing to sacrifice so that others may come to know Jesus. Why is it so hard to think of others first, to remember that every person we see is someone Jesus thought enough of to die for?

Even praying for someone becomes an after-thought instead of an intentional, purposeful opportunity to bombard the thrones of Heaven to plead for them.  And Heaven forbid we take the time to mentor someone with the good news of eternity.  In Romans 10:14, Paul asks how people will come to believe in Christ.  Answer: through us.

Three Scriptures in Romans pave the road to sharing the gospel.

1.  3:23—For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

2.  5:8—God shows his love for us that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.

3. 4:4-5—Salvation can’t be earned (or else Jesus wouldn’t have died.) We need to believe in Christ.

Reread the quote by Pope Francis and ask yourself this simple question: “What is the best thing I can do sacrificially to make others happy?”  I pray that leading others to Christ is at the top of your list.