This week I wanted to write about something most of us agree on, many act on, and more could participate in—helping others. In our hyperpolitical environment of the past few years, I’ve been greatly encouraged by many individuals across the political spectrum who choose to serve others in their community or across the globe, whether those served are friends and family or strangers they may never meet. While I have been encouraged by many, I’ve also sensed that some have stepped away from service to others to focus on beating opponents at the ballot box. Individuals stepping back from traditional forms of serving others has, in my opinion, contributed to reduced empathy and a reduction in “helping” efforts as well as a harsher public discourse and angry emotions that simmer just below the surface of too many of our citizens. We need to renew our individual and community priority on service to others as one means to improve ourselves, our neighbors and our communities.
Serving others is an enduring value that differs somewhat from the principles that cause us to aspire to high standards of virtue in our daily interactions. Helping others requires us to spend our time, resources or both to benefit individuals or groups without expectation of a “return”. We find this call to serve others from leaders, philosophers and religions throughout history. Each of us, regardless of our jobs, wealth, status, religious or political beliefs, can help someone.
Calls to serve
Religious teachings are filled with instructions to help others that go back to man’s earliest oral traditions and writings. Last year P.C. Maxwell cited 47 Bible verses in his article exhorting Christians to “pour themselves out” for others. Instructions such as “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” And poor, when looked at in context of all Biblical teachings, can easily be interpreted to include needs beyond financial. This is illustrated by Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25:35-36. He says “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” Would He find that I served others similarly?
Admonitions to help others are found in most ancient societies and belief systems. For example, a widely cited Chinese proverb teaches “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Islam writings instruct followers in texts such as: [O people of Islam,] “You are the best people ever raised for the good of mankind because you have been raised to serve others” ( Quran 3:111).
Serving others benefits the server too!
Kendra Cherry recently wrote in verywellmind.com that altruism—helping others—has proven benefits to the helper. She cited two studies that document both better mental and physical health among those who serve others. Quoting directly from her:
“Some of the effects of altruism include:
- Better health: Research has found that behaving altruistically can improve physical health in a variety of ways. People who volunteer have been found to have better overall health, and regularly engaging in helping behaviors is linked to a significantly lower risk of dying. (Poulin MJ, Brown SL, Dillard AJ, Smith DM. Giving to others and the association between stress and mortality. Am J Public Health. 2013;103(9):1649–55. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.300876)
- Better mental well-being: Doing good things for other people can make you feel good about yourself and the world. Studies have found that people experience increased happiness after doing good things for other people. (Post SG. Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. Int J Behav Med. 2005;12(2):66-77. doi:10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4)”
Kendra also noted that helping others can improve social connections and relationships. How many times have we found people who share our values and interests in service settings that results in terrific friendships and even business relationships? During my 16 military assignments my wife, children and I always found the strongest relationships were formed with those whom we served alongside in our jobs and community.
I recognize that finding better health in those who serve does not mean altruism is the singular cause of better health. That service is a contributor to our health certainly fits both religious and philosophical teachings that emphasize the value of service. Personally, I don’t need more evidence that helping others is both good for those who help and for those helped. The study results match how I feel in my own life—grateful and better off for those who have helped me when needed and also more fulfilled and happier after I’ve helped someone.
Plato: “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die”
Plato’s words really challenge us to recognize that each of us collectively contribute to the quality of our community. Together we have the power to be fertile soil to grow strong citizens as well as the ability to offer no nourishment and ensure others “wilt and die”, both figuratively and, in extreme cases, literally. It is our ability to provide rich, nutritious soil for healthy growth that religious and thought leaders have connected to finding our purpose and meaning in life. Leo Tolstoy said it this way, “the sole meaning of life is to serve humanity,” while Mahatma Ghandi is oft quoted saying “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
“We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone” (Dr. Loretta Scott, also used by Ronald Reagan)
Serving another is an intentional act that requires effort and resources, whether time, possessions, or money. The simplicity of service is why “everyone can help someone.” Sometimes serving means sitting quietly with a friend who has lost a loved one, a priceless gift of time. Many yards have been mowed to help elderly or sick neighbors and families of deployed military members. Youth league sport coaches and team moms serve children and communities while (hopefully) having fun and experiencing the joy of developing skills and cheering on young people as they learn what is possible. One-on-one and small group opportunities to serve are limitless and often a quiet, but critical strength in healthy communities.
Donating money to causes we support is also important to our communities and is a vehicle of service. In many instances, the funds provide the materials used in a charity and salaries for needed staff. Donations are also important when someone is physically unable to help with programs that they want to be a part of. I recognized the latter more as I watched our parents age. For example, my wife’s parents went from regularly driving for meals-on-wheels to solely financial support when they were no longer able to safely and reliably drive the routes. They remained a part of the team, though they greatly missed the personal touch from active involvement with those served and serving.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others” (Martin Luther King)
When we ask ourselves what we can do in a period where society and many political leaders seem intent on highlighting division and pulling us apart, the answer is all around us. Serve others. We need people to help others one-on-one, as part of groups and with financial donations. Everyone wins when we serve others and give life to this value that lasts!
1 thought on “Renewal and Purpose Through Service to Others”
Great message Tim. One easy way we can all serve others is to simply wear a mask and not make that a political issue. If you truly care about the health and well being of your fellow man then take the necessary steps to ensure his or her safety.