25 Inexpensive Ways to Help Your Neighbor

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“It’s not fair!”

True! Life’s not fair.

We want fair. We want equal. Although, it’s perfectly okay if our family is a little more equal.

We want someone to fix poverty. Homeless people make us uncomfortable. We walk down city streets where those with hand outstretched wait for someone to help and we join others in walking around, looking down, or looking away.

Why doesn’t someone fix poverty?

Someone else that is. Someone else needs to take responsibility and make it fair . . . the government, charities, or the obscenely rich. Someone who can afford it.

But God doesn’t say give when you can afford it; He says –

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:10

Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Psalm 82:3

It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor. Proverbs 14:21

And Jesus affirmed this by saying –

Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Mark 12:42 

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me . . .I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[f] you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:35–36, 40

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34–35

My head and heart are bowed in humble conviction. I could do so much more. I’m guilty of passively waiting for someone else to do the loving and helping.

When someone else is doing I don’t have to risk my heart or get my hands dirty. 

[Tweet “Followers of Jesus are supposed to risk their hearts and get their hands dirty. He did.”]

Jesus calls us to give, to invite, to visit, to care. He tells us to make friends out of strangers and commands us to love.

We can do it. We may not fix all problems, but we can make a difference.

25 Inexpensive Ways to Help Your Neighbor

1. Pray for eyes to see and willingness to do.
2. Give food to a local food bank or homeless shelter.
3. Volunteer at a food bank or homeless shelter.
4. Share a meal.
5. Visit a nursing home.
6. Visit someone a shut in.
7. Give away clothes that don’t fit or that you seldom wear.
8. Donate personal care items to a homeless shelter.
9. Give diapers and formula to crisis nursery or women’s shelter.
10. Offer to tutor children.
11. Mentor someone looking for a job in your field.
12. Teach ESL.
13. Volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister.
14. Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home.
15. Be a coupon fairy.
16. Babysit for a struggling family.
17. Volunteer at a community garden.
18. Participate in charity walk/run.
19. Speak up for others.
20. Donate unused toys.
21. Listen with compassion.
22. Donate blood.
23. Accept help when offered.
24. Show respect, compassion, and kindness to everyone . . . everywhere.
25. Pray for and with those in need.

I’m challenged to notice more and do more to love my neighbor. Will you join me?

What do you do to bless and help your neighbor?

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

The best part. God is faithful to provide everything we need to bless and help and …

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.” ~Pauline R. Kezer

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