Q:
How can a Christian life touch others?
A:
The Bible refers to this act that you speak of as
“ministering” which in its basic definition is simply
attending to the wants and needs of others. However, to
minister to others one must first be willing to submit
themselves to the Lord in all humility realizing that before
they can hope to help others.
We see that humility is a prerequisite for
man when serving or approaching the Lord:
Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet
hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth
afar off.
This was demonstrated first by our Lord in
His earthly ministry as an example for us to follow:
Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them
unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them, and they that are great
exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among
you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your
minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be
your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many.
Which Paul himself also practiced:
Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all
humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations,
which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Which he also commended other believers
for their humility and willingness to minister to each
other:
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we
do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches
of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto
the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear
record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of
themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would
receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints. In addition, this they did, not
as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord,
and unto us by the will of God.
Bro. Jeff Newman