A few weeks ago, our community group at church studied what it meant to love our neighbor and I realized (not for the first time), that I’m really bad at this. I like to think I’m a loving person, but when I look at the way God has called us to truly love others, I miss the mark every time.
I know how to recognize need, but I don’t meet it in a concrete way. When I ask how someone is, I often don’t listen to the response. I struggle with putting my husband’s needs before my own. In short, I don’t live up to the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. This passage was read at our wedding because we wanted to have it as our foundation. Some days, I think I need to tattoo it to my forehead.
If I struggle to show God’s love to my own husband, how am I supposed to love my neighbor, much less, my enemy? God loved us so much he sent his Son to die for us. If he can do that for me, why can’t I be patient and kind, without envy, boasting, arrogance, rudeness, or irritability? The short answer is that I’m selfish. It’s something I’m working on – or rather- something God’s working on in me.
I want my future children to grow up in a world where helping your neighbor without regard for cost or who they are is a commonplace thing. Sometimes, the daily news makes me despair this dream will ever come true. But then I’m reminded that change starts with me. I may not be able to change the world, but I can change my own little corner of it.
It can be overwhelming when we look at all the problems in our world today. What do we do when there is increased racial tension, a refugee crisis, mass murders and acts of terror? How do we help when there are hurting children in foster care and orphanages, rising drug addiction rates, and homeless people in need of shelter?
The answer is, we love, love, love, because God first loved us. This can be as simple as smiling at the strangers we pass on the street, starting a conversation with the grocery store cashier, or getting to know our actual neighbor. We can volunteer in our churches or local charities. To take it further, we can go on mission trips. Through these, we can get to know other cultures and see first-hand the amazing work God is doing through missionaries around the world.
When we disagree with the beliefs of those to whom we’re called to show love, we hear them out. We don’t have to agree, but we can show our love by listening and learning about each other.
You never know what kind of impact any of these simple acts can have. I once heard a story about a man I wish I could’ve met who led someone to Christ while waiting in line to get on a roller coaster.
If you’re looking for other ideas, I’ve listed some options for organizations you can check out below. I’ve divided them into international and local (to South Florida) categories. I know there are countless groups out there doing great things. These are just a few whose work I’ve witnessed either personally, or secondhand through people I trust. If you are thinking about getting involved in any charity or nonprofit and are wondering if what they advertise is true, do a little research. Charitynavigator.com is a great resource for financial information for most of the major nonprofits.
International Organizations:
Compassion International
About: One of the few international child sponsorship programs that actually does what they say they do.
Link: https://www.compassion.com/m/donate.htm
Featured Initiative: Due to governmental regulations, their program in India is in danger of having to close: https://blog.compassion.com/how-you-can-advocate-for-compassion-international-s-program-in-india/
Operation Mobilisation
About: International Christian mission organization. I can attest through personal experience that they’re an incredibly effective, well-run organization.
Link: https://www.om.org/us/en
Featured Initiative: Multiple worldwide
Samaritan’s Purse
About: Faith-based international relief organization. I’ve had personal experience with them as well, and they do some really wonderful things.
Link: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/
Featured Initiative: Aid for refugees fleeing Mosul
Preemptive love coalition
About: Faith-based relief organization based in Syria and Iraq
Link: http://www.preemptivelove.org/
Featured Initiative: Refugee Aid
Local (South Florida) Organizations:
Boca Helping Hands:
About: a community-based organization with the mission to provide food, medical, and financial assistance to meet basic needs. Our church currently partners with them.
Link: http://www.bocahelpinghands.org/
4Kids of South Florida
About: Faith-based foster care organization
Link: https://www.4kidsofsfl.org/
Hope South Florida
About: Faith-based non-profit that provides crisis and rapid re-housing assistance, and support services to homeless families, veterans and individuals.
Link: http://hopesouthflorida.org/
Hope for Freedom
About: A ministry arm of Christ Fellowship church with focus on help for those rescued from human trafficking. They have a safe house here in South Florida.
Link: https://gochristfellowship.com/serve/hope-for-freedom/
