“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly.” 2 Corinthians 8:12 NLT
In my first year as an undergraduate, one question that plagued my mind was, “How will I make my mark in life and make an impact on others?” I was a Physics major and for some reason, I doubted I would use my certificate. It’s funny to see that was already my thought process in my first year.
I eventually joined a unit in my local church because I knew how to use a computer to create documents, design, etc. I had taken a few courses the year before, so I was quite confident in my abilities. To my dismay, I was moved to the writing unit which I felt I had no business going to. A few months later and with some writing projects under my belt, I realised that God intentionally placed me there so I could discover the answer to my pressing question.
But the real epiphany came when a few years later, I realised for the first time how talent could become skill and skill become a source of income filled with passion. Freelance writing was going mainstream back in 2010 and for the first time, someone hired me to write for them and paid me for it.
In my room that afternoon, as I saw the credit alert on my phone, I took an action that defined the rest of my life. Out of the immense gratitude of my heart, I made a promise to never stop serving God because I would never have discovered this new path on my own. This started me on a journey of service.
The main lesson here is the intent. For many years, I got frustrated with life and dejected by the ill responses I got from people towards the help I rendered and I forgot why I offered to serve. I usually just went with the tide and let it sway my emotions.
When I felt that I couldn’t take it anymore, I went back to God crying and He reminded me why. “I don’t serve because I have the knowledge and skills or because people need my help. I do it because I am grateful for the gift He has given me and the transformation that the gift has caused in my life.”
When you decide to serve others in any capacity, you will experience different reactions. Some will appreciate what you do. Some will belittle all your effort. Some will intentionally take advantage of your kindness and time. Some will not even recognise your work.
If the reason you serve is majorly influenced by what you receive externally instead of from internal convictions, your zeal will always fluctuate. Now, I intentionally remind myself that I help people, not because of who they are but because of what God has given me. It helps me take it easy on myself and defines my success metrics.
When you discover an internal reason to serve, you’ll be able to put in the work every day. That should be your quest.
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