Giving is inside of us all.

Giving is inside of us all. This essay brings up the topic of suffering. Christian ethics are written large about caring for our neighbour. That is for all of us. "On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, 'Come enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me.' Then Jesus will turn to those on His left hand and say, 'Depart from me because I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was sick and you did not visit me.' These will ask Him, 'When did we see You hungry, or thirsty or sick and did not come to Your help?'. And Jesus will answer then, 'Whatever you neglected to do unto one of the least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!' It is not an optional extra to volunteer, as a Christian. It is a deep held belief to give to those who are suffering. However much of life is seemingly taken up with earning to cover the basics. The basics in the western world are all mod cons. It is a privilege to serve others. Volunteering ones time as a Christian is not meted out for the kick back of ‘feeling good’. In fact volunteering can be confronting and challenging. A long way from the ideals presented as ‘self serving and self promoting’. Australia has one of the highest rates of volunteering in the world. Apparently we also rate very high as the least corrupt society. The motivations of volunteering are various. Altruistic values are not a tick box category that you manufacture. It is from the heart. There are personal gains to volunteering. Research backs up the gains of interpersonal relationships, less isolation and the development of confidence and skill sets. There are also moves to make it mandatory in some countries for anyone receiving a benefit to volunteer their time back. This really makes the onus as an ultimatum. A final quote on volunteering, from a new convert, working in a childcare centre. ‘I feel alive again’. Giving is inside of us all. With thanks to Alice Johnson for this timely essay, from Eureka Street - 8th of October, 2013. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38308#.UlSmUCjIbE0