Created to Give | A Touch of Light

"We Were Created to Give"

“You may not realize it, but it is extremely selfish to go around always dwelling on your problems, always thinking about what you want or need, and hardly noticing the many needs of others all around you. One of the best things you can do if you’re having a problem is to help solve somebody else’s problem. If you want your dreams to come to pass, help someone else fulfill his or her dreams. Start sowing some seeds so God can bring you a harvest. When we meet other people’s needs, God always meets our needs.”

“I met a man not too long ago who was extremely disgruntled with life, disappointed with God and himself. He had been highly successful at one time, but through a series of poor choices, he lost his business, his family, his home, and his entire life savings. Now, he was basically living out of his car.”

“He was deeply depressed, so I attempted to cheer him up and encourage him. After I finished praying for him, I gave him some practical advice. ‘Listen Sir, you’ve got to get your mind off your problems,’ I told him. ‘Get your mind off the mistakes you made and all the things you’ve lost.’ I told him, ‘If you really want to be happy, if you really want to be restored, you’ve got to change your focus and go out and help somebody else in need. You’ve got to sow some seeds.”

“Do you know that no matter how big your problem is today, somebody else has a bigger problem, a tougher road, a more heart-rending story than yours? You can help make a difference in somebody’s life. You can help ease somebody’s burden. You can cheer somebody up, and give somebody a fresh new hope.”

“The man promised that he would take my advice. He connected with some men at Lakewood who help people overcome addictions. Instead of moping in his car, thinking about what a failure he was, he began spending his time helping to care for those drug addicts, listening to their struggles, encouraging them, praying for them, and challenging them to believe for a better life. He became a giver.”

“He showed up at church a few weeks later, and I’ll never forget seeing him walk through the front lobby. He was beaming with joy. He had a smile from ear to ear. I said, ‘Hey man, you look great. What’s going on?’”

“He said, ‘Joel, I’ve spent the last two weeks taking care of cocaine addicts, and I’ve never had so much joy in all my life.’ He wiped a tear from his eye as he said, ‘I’ve never been so fulfilled.’ He said, ‘I spent my whole life living for myself, building my career, doing what I wanted to do, whatever I thought would bring me happiness. But now I see what really matters.’”

“We were created to give, not to simply please ourselves. If you miss that truth, you will miss the abundant, overflowing, joy-filled life that God has in store for you.”

Joel Osteen, “Your Best Life Now” p. 222-223

A Touch of Light is not affiliated with any specific religion, political party, or government. We look to find inspiration and hope wherever it may be found, to uplift and and empower the human spirit of all people in all places.