Investing in others without expectation of return.

This is the first posture or strategy for what we believe is God’s vision for Center Pointe Church. For some of us, this is an exciting possibility to help people that have genuine needs. For others, it’s a difficult challenge to get our hands dirty in the lives of other people.

Some people are just hard to be around and all of us have, sadly, preconceived negative feelings towards certain types of people - whether it’s addicts, people on welfare, physically disabled, etc. So how do you help people when everything in you screams, THEY DON’T DESERVE IT!

Well, if transformation happens in our lives when we center ourselves on Jesus, then the the answer is to look at Jesus. Here are a couple of things that I alway have to remember when helping people that are difficult to help. Maybe they be of benefit to you too.

• Every person (no matter what issues they have) has incredible, intrinsic value. Are all people made in the image of God, no matter how broken, smudged, or distorted that image is? Didn’t Jesus die on the cross to pay the ransom for ALL PEOPLE? It seems to me that everyone is incredibly valuable in God’s sight. So approach them as if they’re at least no less than you.
• Every person is naturally prone to disappoint you. Even though all people have the utmost value, something has gone terribly wrong. There’s a natural rebellion and selfishness is everyone. Paul’s pretty clear when he writes, “All have sinned and fall short.” If we have all fallen short of God’s expectations and plans for our lives, it seems obvious that we’re going to come up short in the expectations that others have for us as well – and vice versa. You’re going to be disappointed for others. So have low expectations.

High value. Low expectations. This has helped me as I interact with people in need. And the plus side is, when people exceed my expectations, I am overjoyed and praise God for his grace! To me that’s better than grumbling that so-and-so is ungrateful, or always taking advantage of me, or whatever else.

I hope this helps as God gives you a vision to be like Jesus and invest in others without expectation of return!