Where Do We Begin?
God has given each of us talents, gifts that He has granted us personally, for service in the kingdom. The starting point for use of these abilities is to realize what our own gifts & talents are.
What do you enjoy doing, that can be used for the benefit of other people?
The gifts God blesses us with are not hard work for us. We will enjoy our service, we will be blessed in blessing others (Jesus says His yoke is easy, His burden is light).
So the first question is what do you like to do?
Where do you want to be?
There are opportunities to serve right in your local community. There are opportunities in your state, across the country and around the globe. Does the idea of traveling excite you? Do you think it would be awesome to meet people in other cultures and living conditions? Do you have the resources to travel? Would you rather stay close to home and serve with people you already know?
Question two is where are you willing & able to go?
Do you have resources above your own time that you can give?
Throughout scripture, the principles of giving indicate that our tithe (a tenth of our increase) is to be used in support of our local congregation. Above that, if we have abundance, we are free to give as we are burdened in our hearts- that is called an offering. Remember, this is not always going to be money, back in the day tithes and offerings were grain and cattle and goods. Maybe you have bags or boxes of clothes that you aren’t using, or a high-chair or a baseball mitt or bicycle that’s collecting dust- there are places these things can go where they’ll be used and appreciated by folks who don’t have the resources to go out and buy everything they need or want.
Number three: what do I have that can I give away?
Can you send money?
Oftentimes it turns out to be just a small thing to scrape up some money to give. Maybe $5, $10, $30, $50 or $100 or more can be found just be changing a habit or two- seriously, some of us spend more per week on coffee or magazines or dvds than it takes to provide clean water for a family for a year! Now, before we move to a monastery here, we are blessed to have access to all these luxuries, and we should enjoy them- but there is an element of sacrifice that will return as a blessing to us when we give from our excess.
Question four: Can I find some money to give, either one-time or monthly, to help someone?