What is benevolence? That is like asking, what is love? What is compassion? What does it mean to care for others? The definitions and expressions of benevolence will be as varied as the souls and personalities engaged in responding. Beyond the hundreds of ways to show benevolence to our neighbor (others), there is another great mystery to explore - Benevolence heals us, body, mind, and soul The bible is full of instruction on what keeps us healthy.
"A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
"The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness, but as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?" (Proverbs 18:14)..
"A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body." (Proverbs 14:30)
How does this specifically relate to benevolence - doing for others?
"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not to hide yourself from the needs of your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth; Your righteousness will go before you (leading you to peace and prosperity), the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:7-8)
When we don't have enough food to share with the hungry, or we are too afraid to invite homeless strangers into our home, how can we experience the joy of giving? The following are a few examples to get you started.....search your heart and pray.....God will show you what He wants you to do. Let the Holy Spirit guide you; there is no end to the possibilities of serving God's purpose when living the second greatest commandment - "Love your neighbor as yourself."
A Golden Apple - "A word spoken in due season is like a golden apple on beds of silver." A simple word of kindness can brighten a person's entire day and change the course of events in their lives. "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body." (Proverbs 16:24) Amidst a world of criticism, negativity, and judgment, encouragement and kindness are needed more than ever. "The words of a man's mouth are like deep water; The fountain of wisdom is like a bubbling stream (sparkly, fresh, pure, and life-giving). (Proverbs 18:4) What little time and effort it takes to offer a warm smile, an uplifting comment, a word of understanding and comfort, or a glimmer of hope through encouragement. Sometimes, just being heard or acknowledged can give another person a reminder of their self-worth and lift their spirits enough to help them move forward in a positive direction. "A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment - how good it is!" (Proverbs 15:23)
A Good Samaritan - The most important action to take to help those in need is to "see." Watch and observe everyone around you in your daily encounters to help others in whatever ways are needed in the moment. If we are "awake" in our hearts and minds to be other-oriented, many wonderful opportunities will present themselves. The following are a few examples.
You see an elderly lady left alone sitting in the cold in front of a grocery store waiting for a ride - Find a chair inside the store and offer to bring her in to stay warm.
You see a homeless man sitting in a restaurant seeking shelter drinking coffee, but he has no money for a meal. Tell the waitress you will pay for whatever he orders from the menu (it's always rewarding to do random acts of kindness anonymously when possible).
You see a young woman sitting on the curb crying. Stop and ask if she is all right. Just knowing that someone cares can make all the difference. Offer your cell phone if she needs to make a call.
You see a single mom paying for groceries with food stamps and there isn't enough to cover the groceries. Offer to pay for what she needs.
The possibilities are endless. The more you give, the more you want to give - it fills our own souls up with such joy, and health follows! "The generous man is a source of blessing and shall be prosperous and enriched, and he who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:25)
A Peacemaker - In a world of turmoil, chaos, and anxiety, one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another is peace. Reducing stress for another person truly has the side effects of improved health! "If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18) By doing this, you bring calm to those around you, and keep strife out of your own life.
The mind, body, and spirit are intimately connected through neurological, endocrine, and immune pathways. Discord from daily stressors, such as marital conflict, disconnect from children or other significant personal relationships, caregiver stress, or other chronic negative scenarios affect immune functioning, and can impair the speed of wound healing. Anger and hostile aggression can have devastating cardiovascular effects that decrease longevity.
According to the Mayo Clinic, The health effects of keeping your mind and the environment around you positive and peaceful include:
Decreased negative stress
Greater resistance to catching the common cold
A sense of well-being and improved health
Reduced risk of coronary artery disease.
Easier breathing if you have certain lung diseases, such as emphysema
The improved coping ability for women with high-risk pregnancies
Better coping skills during hardships.
Religious factors, which lower stress, increase socialization, and promote peace, may influence psychological, physiological, and emotional states, significantly affecting health. Religious and spiritual traditions emphasize the mastery and control of negative emotions. "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms." (James 5:13) Healing through prayer has been recorded throughout history since ancient times. "...pray for one another that you may be healed..." (James 5:16). We will explore the power of prayer and its miraculous restoration of health in my next blog.
Good nutrition, hydration, exercise, fresh air and sunshine, rest and sleep, reducing stress, and benevolence are all crucial in achieving optimum health and wellness; however, benevolence is the greatest of these. Without love, the deepest human need, our body, mind, and soul will be malnourished, and we will be unable to flourish and live a quality life of purpose and joy.
Don't just selfishly and fearfully pass through this life, but do everything you can every way you can for everyone you can as often as you can.
Comments