Planting Seeds of Service

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10

Dear Friends in Christ,

Living intentionally Christian lives often takes some planning or preparation. On the one hand, being intentionally Christian involves cultivating a mind and heart to love certain values and shy away from things that undermine those values. On the other hand, simply being Christian in the abstract is weak without taking action. And action often takes preparation. We plant and fertilize seeds so that, at the right time, we are prepared for the harvest.

As we prepare for school or work, as we plan for retirement, so also we can prepare to serve God in generosity to others, especially as those opportunities arrive without notice. For instance, we can love the idea of feeding the hungry, and we might help with programs such as Hope for the Hungry. But what if we kept small bags of non-perishable food in our cars so that, if we drive through an area with people who beg, we can hand out that food? What if we kept a few grocery store or restaurant gift cards for similar purpose?

I remember going to Kenya and finding myself short of cash and thus unprepared to tip people along the way or to buy small things from the merchants selling to tourists in public parks. Next time, if I’m intentional about it, I’ll go prepared to be generous.

Brandon Dasinger observed this with his family, where he keeps in mind the blessings of building “margin” into his life, so that he has the flexibility of time and energy to be delayed by a personal conversation, or to offer an easy invitation to a neighbor to join them for dinner. In a world of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) driving us to pack our schedules with every conceivable experience, what if we had the margin to be available to the strangers that we meet, to our neighbors, or to the unplanned and relaxed conversation with our family?

If we live in affluent neighborhoods, we can drive to poorer ones and serve there, either directly or through groups that serve there, such as our partnerships with Holy Comforter or St. Jude’s Church on Windy Hill Rd. If we are intentional, then we can take the theory of generosity and put it into action. If that means that we have to think it through in advance and make plans, all the better. It works that way with the rest of our lives, why not with generosity as well—especially the generosity of time and interpersonal engagement.

When we plant these seeds that God gives us in the fertile soil of our lives and our actions, God will surely bring a harvest of relief and joy to those who struggle, and those who are so often overlooked by our busy, overscheduled lives. How can you prepare to serve God in the opportunities of your daily life?

Yours in Christ,

-Tom