Serving—Not Stopping—For Lent
Many Christians focus on giving up something they enjoy during the season of Lent as a way of showing their gratitude to God for his gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
But what if we focused on serving others during that time period that started Wednesday, Feb. 22 and runs through Easter, April 8, instead of giving up something meaningless like caffeine or desserts or something in that realm? What if we decided for the next 40 days we would volunteer at a shelter for battered women? Or help stock our church’s food pantry? Or helped rehabilitate a home for a senior citizen who couldn’t do it themselves? Or get a group of friends together to collect clothes for a homeless shelter?
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with self-denial. Jesus talked about it regularly in the Bible. There is a need and time for that. But He also was a big advocate for taking care of the needs of the less fortunate. Just an idea.
One thing to make sure you DON’T forget. Make sure everyone knows what you are doing is in the name of Jesus. He’s the reason we serve. He’s the reason we live. Make sure those you help know about Him!
Here’s a link to an article in our local newspaper in Nashville describing what some high school students are doing toward this same idea. Maybe those of us in the age groups above these students might get some enthusiasm for what they are doing.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070222/NEWS06/702220381/1023
About the Author
Jim Johnston has worked in a variety of roles, ranging from marketing to publishing to Internet development. Prior to coming to LifeWay, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Montgomery Advertiser and also as an adult-in-missions editor at the Brotherhood Commission in Memphis. Jim and his wife Tammy have been married for 23 years and have two sons, Spenser, 17, and Ethan, 10.
There have been 4 replies so far
Okay Jim I think “meaningless” is a little strong. I am giving up something for lent this year for the first time. It just happens to be caffeine which is a bit of a sacrifice for someone who has four to five Diet Dr. Peppers in any given 24 hour period. I was reading a book in January and was moved by the author giving up something that she loved to prepare her heart for the celebration of the resurrection. I thought - I need something physical- I need to take something out of my everyday life- I need to break myself of this horrible addiction to this legal addictive substance :) So to your blog I add the thought that sometimes removing something - even something ordinary and small - can be enough to cue a shift in thought. I am hoping it will be a shift to something more important.
1 | Heather Manning
Monday, February 26, 2007, at 6:00pm
My friend Heather is correct in writing that the word “meaningless” is too strong a word for this context. You can certainly deny yourself anything and achieve the desired result if your motivation for this self-denial is pure. I am convinced God is certainly more interested in our heart condition and motivation than anything else. Having stated that, however, I am also convinced that we cheapen the idea of Lent when we carelessly throw out the idea that “I will give up chocolate” or “I will give up Cokes” just so we will have something to say someone when they ask “What are you giving up for Lent?” I have been around way too many people who don’t take this idea seriously at all. Obviously, you are. I just believe the idea of “doing” something in Jesus name may be a way to break out of the lackdaiscal cycle that many Christians are locked in when it comes to the idea of Lent. jj
2 | Jim Johnston
Tuesday, February 27, 2007, at 10:03am
Great idea you got there. I mean if people are going to be committing to something (or lack of somethinig) for forty days anyway, why not have that be something that is beneficial to others? While I do agree that its not entirely useless to give up more physical things, I also think that there is no better way to to prepare one’s heart for the celebration of Jesus’ ressurection than by following his example of service.
3 | KR90
Friday, March 2, 2007, at 5:16pm
Something else you might give up for Lent — social networking. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/29/no.facebook.lent/index.html
4 | Jim Johnston
Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 9:36am
Comments are closed. Please use our contact form if you have any thoughts or questions.