The world is full of opportunities for good deeds. They are at our doorsteps and at the doorsteps of our office and on the road from our home to the office and beyond. Then why don’t we do them? Most of us hardly react to the tragedy on our door step.
Often because we have never learnt the steps to them. Take the seven steps and you will be in cloud nine.
1. Stop
Most good deeds go undone because people do not stop. We see a person in need and keep walking or driving. Then we think we have gone too far to stop. Yet we know we can turn around and come. We must determine in our hearts to stop when we see someone in need.
Jesus was on the move from Jericho. Two blind beggars yelled and hollered His name. The crowd hushed them. But Jesus “stopped” (Mt 20:32). There was only one man in the whole crowd who wanted to stop. Jesus did not think He was too busy to stop for blind beggars. Another blind man was Bartimaeus, mentioned by Mark. Mark also says Jesus “stopped” (10:49). Luke also narrates the incident and says Jesus “stopped” (18:40). Jesus’ act of stopping was noticeable and remarkable to those who witnessed the scene. Yes, one person can make a difference and no doubt the disciples learned to stop.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a priest saw the man and “passed by.” A Levite also saw him and “passed by.” People are so full of themselves! But the Samaritan saw something that made him snap to attention. He stopped his journey and came where the man was (Lk 10:31-33). It was a quick decision at that bleak moment since the bloke was nearly at death’s door. A ghastly sight of a half dead man makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and will make anybody quickly shuffle away. But he had the courage to stop at the scene.
Unless we stop we cannot do a good deed. Thoughts like, “What can I do?” should come later. First we must stop. We may feel awkward about others watching us. But by stopping, you only “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise YOUR Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). “Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible; the ninety-nine will read the Christian,” said Dwight L. Moody. He hit the nail right on the head. Whether you’ll be able to do anything or not is immaterial.
First stop. It will turn heads and hold the hell-bound spell-bound! “Live such GOOD LIVES among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your GOOD DEEDS and glorify God on the day He visits us” (1 Pet 2:12). Here a good life is equated to good works. When people watch us do good they are challenged. What a wonderful way of making pagans praise “your” Father! Matthew 5:14-16 implies that you should not hide yourself under the cot. You must become bold and stand on a pedestal and shine.
2. Be Willing
A leper said to Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean,” Jesus replied: “I am willing. Be clean” (Mt 8:2,3). Our problem is unwillingness. We give many excuses about our inability to do a good work. We blame it on the time or our health.
But if we examine our hearts, hesitation stands like a giant, not allowing us to stoop down. Fear is another factor that ties up our hands. Most fears are unfounded. When we tried to help a destitute near our headquarters office and had him admitted in
the hospital (where he died after 10 days), we were called to the police station. Then the police came to our house. It was disturbing, but the Lord stood with us. “The righteous are as bold as a lion” (Prov 28:1). When we do right why should we be
afraid? Just go with God.
The Good Samaritan had a willing heart. He was not afraid to stop in the thief infested lonely place. He was not unwilling, thinking, “What will I do if this fellow dies? Will there be police enquiry? Will the whole responsibility of disposing off the
body fall on me? How expensive will the treatment be? If he recovers, will he become a leech?” He was first of all willing. “He took pity on him and went to him.” Of course, being a do-gooder isn’t always without hazards. In our world where underdogs are
treated so shockingly, each of us should pray for a willing heart.
3. Take the First step
You have stopped. You are willing. Now what? Ask anyone who is the founder of a great work. They will tell you that their journey of a thousand miles started with their first step. You may have a village in your mind or a tribe. Most good deeds started
as a mustard seed— one poor, two boys or three handicapped. It is rightly said that it is difficult to turn a stationary car. You must start the car before you can turn it. God’s guidance comes in small measure, more often undramatically. Be ready to open your own purse before you can expect others to pitch in.
You may have to make a phone call, visit someone or get permission. Use your influence. Go ahead. Don’t worry about the second step. We need courage to face things as they come. If you come to a dead end you can always stop and retrace you steps and take a different route. Don’t try to cross the bridge before you come to it. It’s a hard road, no doubt, but there will be uplifting episodes along the way.
Moved by the pathos, the Good Samaritan went to the hapless victim and bandaged his wound, pouring oil and wine. He did not stop with, “Goodness, gracious,” and move on. He had many excuses to “pass by.” He was no doctor and he had no first-aid box which were very reasonable excuses. He had no sterile gauze or spirit. All he had was some oil, wine and may be a towel that he could tear to strips as bandage cloth. He had to look to God for the wound not to get infected and the healing. He did what he could at the moment. “Go and do likewise,” said Jesus. Do what? Treat people with kindness and civility. Or else we are no better than animals.
4. Persist
Now that you have taken the first step, go ahead. There will be hurdles, threatenings, fears or discouragement. There will be ‘put down’ forces for any good work. Keep your head up. He who limps is still walking, isn’t it? Quitting is easy. Sticking on
is difficult. God always calls us to do difficult things. That is why He has given us the spirit of power and not the spirit of timidity. Resist the temptation to give up. “Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things,” says Henry Ward Beecher. Do you know that in the dark our pupils enlarge and our eyes begin to see?
The Good Samaritan took a big risk by taking this ‘half dead’ man along with him. It would have been easier for him to have left him there saying, “I have done what I could. What more can I do? Now it is up to God. All I can do is to pray that he will
recover.” But at heart he knew he had not yet done what he could; that there were more things he could do if he didn’t mind some inconvenience. Ask yourself the questions: “Is there anything more I can do? Am I a lazy shirker? Am I egotistical,
narcissistic and only interested in myself?” We are really capable of going the second mile. A hundred years ago pioneer psychologist William James declared that humans use only a tiny part of their potential. All too many of our tasks are routine or
tedious. Then the brain operates almost on idle.
Face problems as they come. Don’t take giant steps. Neither drive yourself hard to achieve impossible deadlines. Go slow so that you will be in control of things. When you can’t have a big victory accept the small ones. Be alert to God’s guidance. God
doesn’t speak to you aloud from heaven. You have to trust your own impressions and act on them. Breakdown a complicated image into bite-size pieces instead of imagining the entire project and getting bogged down. Take one piece at a time. Keep putting one foot in front of the other toward the next goal with faith, prayer and courage. Aim for the ideal but be satisfied with the actual.
5. Become Proactive
If you are interested in good deeds you cannot sit and wait for an opportunity to come by. You must get going. Visit a slum nearby and observe the condition of people there. Explore the possibility of helping them out of their misery. Hang out in the bus-stand and talk to street children. Some are born into impoverished slums where they grow up with almost no opportunity to escape the downward spiral of despair. Open up a conversation with beggars and visit their abode. Jesus first started going out. Then people came to Him. Have you ever visited your servant’s house? There is so much we can do if only we give some thought to it and put on our shoes.
When you hear about a suffering group, visit them. Be there in a disaster zone. Find out about charity organisations and dispense your money generously and cheerfully instead of spending a disastrous amount on yourself. “There are three conversions:
Conversion of the heart, conversion of the mind and conversion of the purse,” they say. Don’t postpone your giving. He gives twice who gives quickly.
Read the story of Baba Amte in the 2014 May issue of Reader’s Digest to have your sleeping heart strings strummed. It will literally shift your life’s centre of gravity. Seeing a leper, set into motion a chain of events that irrevocably changed the
course of his life. Such a venture will make your life more meaningful. Yet philanthropy is not a one time achievement. It should become a habit.
6. Take Responsibility
We are scared to take responsibility. We are afraid our routine work will be disturbed. Taking responsibility means facing whatever comes. It may mean going to the police station or court or answering questions or spending. Be ready for it. You will not regret your decision.
The priest and the Levite did not even go near the victim to feel the pulse. They passed by “on the other side.” But the Samaritan was not afraid to see whether he was alive or not. Then he put the man on his own donkey. That means he had to amble alongside instead of riding. Do you know how difficult it is to carry a half-dead man on a donkey? It needs enormous strength to keep him from falling off and to see that the donkey doesn’t step on your toes. It was a pretty rough ride. It was a handsome spectacle which today we would photograph and publish in our magazine!
He took him to the inn and took good care of him. We don’t know what time he checked in but we know he kept vigil through the night. The next day—only the next day he left. By now I’m sure the man had recovered a bit. He paid a good sum, “silver coins,”
so that the inn keeper would happily take care of him. “When I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” That is taking responsibility! He planned to see him when he came back.
Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” Will I do it? I ask myself this question. Jesus’words are for practicing not philosophy. “While some books inform and others reform, only the Bible can transform,” quipped Billy Graham. Let us be transformed.
Taking responsibility may often mean straying from our comfort zone. We should not try to wash our hands off. God will send helpers — like the innkeeper—sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes a team to stand with us.
7. Train Others
If you do not train those who are with you to take over whatever you have started, you work will come to a grinding halt after you. Jesus trained His disciples and Paul, his associates. Let them come along with you and see what you do. Tolerate the way
they do things. Give them freedom to do things their own way and implement their ideas. Appreciate them and gradually take away your hands. Don’t let your dreams die young!
Nobody can change the whole world at once, but each of us can make it a little bit better by our everyday good works. Our life is measured not by public recognition but by the legacy we leave behind and the lives we have touched.
Climb the steps and you will feel richer than Bill Gates!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
The world is full of opportunities for good deeds. They are at our doorsteps and at the doorsteps of our office and on the road from our home to the office and beyond. Then why don’t we do them? Most of us hardly react to the tragedy on our door step.
Often because we have never learnt the steps to them. Take the seven steps and you will be in cloud nine.
1. Stop
Most good deeds go undone because people do not stop. We see a person in need and keep walking or driving. Then we think we have gone too far to stop. Yet we know we can turn around and come. We must determine in our hearts to stop when we see someone in need.
Jesus was on the move from Jericho. Two blind beggars yelled and hollered His name. The crowd hushed them. But Jesus “stopped” (Mt 20:32). There was only one man in the whole crowd who wanted to stop. Jesus did not think He was too busy to stop for blind beggars. Another blind man was Bartimaeus, mentioned by Mark. Mark also says Jesus “stopped” (10:49). Luke also narrates the incident and says Jesus “stopped” (18:40). Jesus’ act of stopping was noticeable and remarkable to those who witnessed the scene. Yes, one person can make a difference and no doubt the disciples learned to stop.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a priest saw the man and “passed by.” A Levite also saw him and “passed by.” People are so full of themselves! But the Samaritan saw something that made him snap to attention. He stopped his journey and came where the man was (Lk 10:31-33). It was a quick decision at that bleak moment since the bloke was nearly at death’s door. A ghastly sight of a half dead man makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and will make anybody quickly shuffle away. But he had the courage to stop at the scene.
Unless we stop we cannot do a good deed. Thoughts like, “What can I do?” should come later. First we must stop. We may feel awkward about others watching us. But by stopping, you only “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise YOUR Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). “Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible; the ninety-nine will read the Christian,” said Dwight L. Moody. He hit the nail right on the head. Whether you’ll be able to do anything or not is immaterial.
First stop. It will turn heads and hold the hell-bound spell-bound! “Live such GOOD LIVES among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your GOOD DEEDS and glorify God on the day He visits us” (1 Pet 2:12). Here a good life is equated to good works. When people watch us do good they are challenged. What a wonderful way of making pagans praise “your” Father! Matthew 5:14-16 implies that you should not hide yourself under the cot. You must become bold and stand on a pedestal and shine.
2. Be Willing
A leper said to Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean,” Jesus replied: “I am willing. Be clean” (Mt 8:2,3). Our problem is unwillingness. We give many excuses about our inability to do a good work. We blame it on the time or our health.
But if we examine our hearts, hesitation stands like a giant, not allowing us to stoop down. Fear is another factor that ties up our hands. Most fears are unfounded. When we tried to help a destitute near our headquarters office and had him admitted in
the hospital (where he died after 10 days), we were called to the police station. Then the police came to our house. It was disturbing, but the Lord stood with us. “The righteous are as bold as a lion” (Prov 28:1). When we do right why should we be
afraid? Just go with God.
The Good Samaritan had a willing heart. He was not afraid to stop in the thief infested lonely place. He was not unwilling, thinking, “What will I do if this fellow dies? Will there be police enquiry? Will the whole responsibility of disposing off the
body fall on me? How expensive will the treatment be? If he recovers, will he become a leech?” He was first of all willing. “He took pity on him and went to him.” Of course, being a do-gooder isn’t always without hazards. In our world where underdogs are
treated so shockingly, each of us should pray for a willing heart.
3. Take the First step
You have stopped. You are willing. Now what? Ask anyone who is the founder of a great work. They will tell you that their journey of a thousand miles started with their first step. You may have a village in your mind or a tribe. Most good deeds started
as a mustard seed— one poor, two boys or three handicapped. It is rightly said that it is difficult to turn a stationary car. You must start the car before you can turn it. God’s guidance comes in small measure, more often undramatically. Be ready to open your own purse before you can expect others to pitch in.
You may have to make a phone call, visit someone or get permission. Use your influence. Go ahead. Don’t worry about the second step. We need courage to face things as they come. If you come to a dead end you can always stop and retrace you steps and take a different route. Don’t try to cross the bridge before you come to it. It’s a hard road, no doubt, but there will be uplifting episodes along the way.
Moved by the pathos, the Good Samaritan went to the hapless victim and bandaged his wound, pouring oil and wine. He did not stop with, “Goodness, gracious,” and move on. He had many excuses to “pass by.” He was no doctor and he had no first-aid box which were very reasonable excuses. He had no sterile gauze or spirit. All he had was some oil, wine and may be a towel that he could tear to strips as bandage cloth. He had to look to God for the wound not to get infected and the healing. He did what he could at the moment. “Go and do likewise,” said Jesus. Do what? Treat people with kindness and civility. Or else we are no better than animals.
4. Persist
Now that you have taken the first step, go ahead. There will be hurdles, threatenings, fears or discouragement. There will be ‘put down’ forces for any good work. Keep your head up. He who limps is still walking, isn’t it? Quitting is easy. Sticking on
is difficult. God always calls us to do difficult things. That is why He has given us the spirit of power and not the spirit of timidity. Resist the temptation to give up. “Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things,” says Henry Ward Beecher. Do you know that in the dark our pupils enlarge and our eyes begin to see?
The Good Samaritan took a big risk by taking this ‘half dead’ man along with him. It would have been easier for him to have left him there saying, “I have done what I could. What more can I do? Now it is up to God. All I can do is to pray that he will
recover.” But at heart he knew he had not yet done what he could; that there were more things he could do if he didn’t mind some inconvenience. Ask yourself the questions: “Is there anything more I can do? Am I a lazy shirker? Am I egotistical,
narcissistic and only interested in myself?” We are really capable of going the second mile. A hundred years ago pioneer psychologist William James declared that humans use only a tiny part of their potential. All too many of our tasks are routine or
tedious. Then the brain operates almost on idle.
Face problems as they come. Don’t take giant steps. Neither drive yourself hard to achieve impossible deadlines. Go slow so that you will be in control of things. When you can’t have a big victory accept the small ones. Be alert to God’s guidance. God
doesn’t speak to you aloud from heaven. You have to trust your own impressions and act on them. Breakdown a complicated image into bite-size pieces instead of imagining the entire project and getting bogged down. Take one piece at a time. Keep putting one foot in front of the other toward the next goal with faith, prayer and courage. Aim for the ideal but be satisfied with the actual.
5. Become Proactive
If you are interested in good deeds you cannot sit and wait for an opportunity to come by. You must get going. Visit a slum nearby and observe the condition of people there. Explore the possibility of helping them out of their misery. Hang out in the bus-stand and talk to street children. Some are born into impoverished slums where they grow up with almost no opportunity to escape the downward spiral of despair. Open up a conversation with beggars and visit their abode. Jesus first started going out. Then people came to Him. Have you ever visited your servant’s house? There is so much we can do if only we give some thought to it and put on our shoes.
When you hear about a suffering group, visit them. Be there in a disaster zone. Find out about charity organisations and dispense your money generously and cheerfully instead of spending a disastrous amount on yourself. “There are three conversions:
Conversion of the heart, conversion of the mind and conversion of the purse,” they say. Don’t postpone your giving. He gives twice who gives quickly.
Read the story of Baba Amte in the 2014 May issue of Reader’s Digest to have your sleeping heart strings strummed. It will literally shift your life’s centre of gravity. Seeing a leper, set into motion a chain of events that irrevocably changed the
course of his life. Such a venture will make your life more meaningful. Yet philanthropy is not a one time achievement. It should become a habit.
6. Take Responsibility
We are scared to take responsibility. We are afraid our routine work will be disturbed. Taking responsibility means facing whatever comes. It may mean going to the police station or court or answering questions or spending. Be ready for it. You will not regret your decision.
The priest and the Levite did not even go near the victim to feel the pulse. They passed by “on the other side.” But the Samaritan was not afraid to see whether he was alive or not. Then he put the man on his own donkey. That means he had to amble alongside instead of riding. Do you know how difficult it is to carry a half-dead man on a donkey? It needs enormous strength to keep him from falling off and to see that the donkey doesn’t step on your toes. It was a pretty rough ride. It was a handsome spectacle which today we would photograph and publish in our magazine!
He took him to the inn and took good care of him. We don’t know what time he checked in but we know he kept vigil through the night. The next day—only the next day he left. By now I’m sure the man had recovered a bit. He paid a good sum, “silver coins,”
so that the inn keeper would happily take care of him. “When I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” That is taking responsibility! He planned to see him when he came back.
Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” Will I do it? I ask myself this question. Jesus’words are for practicing not philosophy. “While some books inform and others reform, only the Bible can transform,” quipped Billy Graham. Let us be transformed.
Taking responsibility may often mean straying from our comfort zone. We should not try to wash our hands off. God will send helpers — like the innkeeper—sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes a team to stand with us.
7. Train Others
If you do not train those who are with you to take over whatever you have started, you work will come to a grinding halt after you. Jesus trained His disciples and Paul, his associates. Let them come along with you and see what you do. Tolerate the way
they do things. Give them freedom to do things their own way and implement their ideas. Appreciate them and gradually take away your hands. Don’t let your dreams die young!
Nobody can change the whole world at once, but each of us can make it a little bit better by our everyday good works. Our life is measured not by public recognition but by the legacy we leave behind and the lives we have touched.
Climb the steps and you will feel richer than Bill Gates!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
