“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?” Jesus asks in Luke 6.
Yeah, if someone is scratching my back, I’ll scratch theirs. As long as we are all scratching each other's backs, we’re all happy. But what happens if we give our time and energy and don’t receive anything back?
Jesus asks us to do this when he says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great…”
So, sounds like we go about our business, suffering for the sake of “treasures in heaven” as we work out how to love our enemies and do good to those who refuse to scratch our backs!
But what if this difficult lifestyle of loving others does not just benefit them in the here and now? What if it actually benefits us also, as we are shaped and moulded, becoming more like Christ?
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, I had the honour of speaking with some of our dedicated volunteers about their experiences. While their motivations for giving their time varied, a common theme emerged: personal and spiritual growth.
One volunteer found fulfilment in “facilitating a need in the community and helping out young people”. He found it rewarding in that he has acquired a life skill: managing teams under pressure – a skill that will serve him well in the future. But the true reward, he realised, was a deeper understanding of God's love and care for all people, a lesson that deepened in understanding through his volunteer work.
This learning shone through with others as well. Another volunteer gives her time because she clearly sees God’s heart is oriented towards people. “Everybody could do with a bitta love and care.” As she cares for drunk people, she sees God's love in the community. Through her actions, she learnt what a listening ear, or simply a hot pancake, can mean to people: that they are seen and cared for. She has learnt how God’s love is without boundaries.
Another volunteer mentioned how life-giving it is to make someone's day. “Many people who make a difference in our lives are volunteers, and we don’t even realise it,” she says. She has learnt that the impact a small act of love can have on another person can be life changing.
Discipleship isn’t done just through a lecture, sermon or small group, nor does it happen just through watching other people. It is lived and experienced, prayerfully reflecting back on where God was at work. It’s developed and deepened by scratching the backs of those around us.
So, thank you to all our volunteers!
With the cost of living so high, and so many different pressures facing you every day, thank you all for generously giving your time and changing the lives of those around you. It can be thankless, but you are the backbone of our community and the hands and feet of Jesus.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?” Jesus asks in Luke 6.
Yeah, if someone is scratching my back, I’ll scratch theirs. As long as we are all scratching each other's backs, we’re all happy. But what happens if we give our time and energy and don’t receive anything back?
Jesus asks us to do this when he says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great…”
So, sounds like we go about our business, suffering for the sake of “treasures in heaven” as we work out how to love our enemies and do good to those who refuse to scratch our backs!
But what if this difficult lifestyle of loving others does not just benefit them in the here and now? What if it actually benefits us also, as we are shaped and moulded, becoming more like Christ?
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, I had the honour of speaking with some of our dedicated volunteers about their experiences. While their motivations for giving their time varied, a common theme emerged: personal and spiritual growth.
One volunteer found fulfilment in “facilitating a need in the community and helping out young people”. He found it rewarding in that he has acquired a life skill: managing teams under pressure – a skill that will serve him well in the future. But the true reward, he realised, was a deeper understanding of God's love and care for all people, a lesson that deepened in understanding through his volunteer work.
This learning shone through with others as well. Another volunteer gives her time because she clearly sees God’s heart is oriented towards people. “Everybody could do with a bitta love and care.” As she cares for drunk people, she sees God's love in the community. Through her actions, she learnt what a listening ear, or simply a hot pancake, can mean to people: that they are seen and cared for. She has learnt how God’s love is without boundaries.
Another volunteer mentioned how life-giving it is to make someone's day. “Many people who make a difference in our lives are volunteers, and we don’t even realise it,” she says. She has learnt that the impact a small act of love can have on another person can be life changing.
Discipleship isn’t done just through a lecture, sermon or small group, nor does it happen just through watching other people. It is lived and experienced, prayerfully reflecting back on where God was at work. It’s developed and deepened by scratching the backs of those around us.
So, thank you to all our volunteers!
With the cost of living so high, and so many different pressures facing you every day, thank you all for generously giving your time and changing the lives of those around you. It can be thankless, but you are the backbone of our community and the hands and feet of Jesus.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
