Knowing how to listen

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11

We must take this aspect as the most important of all. Many times we are taken by our own problems, which we often endow with an importance that they do not have. Knowing how to listen to others is a great way to help those who need it. We just have to put aside our selfishness, remain meditating in order to listen to our hearts guided by the love of God.

Generating empathy

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28

It is practically impossible to start thinking about extending a hand to others without first generating empathy with those who need our help.

Putting oneself in the other's place and trying to feel what my brother feels at that moment is the motor that drives our sense of duty and our vocation to help. Let us practice this aspect very well in order to be useful to the Lord.

Being a good advisor

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8

Because our task is not finished by knowing how to listen or generating empathy with those who need help, but we must also give wise advice worthy of the pride of God. That is why we must remember that the best advice we can offer is to turn to the teachings of Christ to find the answer.  

Being generous.

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:10-11

Perhaps the most difficult aspect to achieve is that of being stripped.

We all know well the effort required to acquire those things that contribute to our well-being, while we all know very well that we really deserve it, but being generous with others is about giving up certain benefits in order for our neighbor to have the help needed .

Being open

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:13-14

To receive help when you need it, is one of the most exciting sensations, the rain in times of drought, the answer to our prayers.

But we must also consider taking our help to the next level and being open, inviting those who ask for help to our community, teaching them that everyone is welcome there and that together they can help you better. Let us remember how God invites us to follow him and to always surround ourselves with much love.

Setting the example

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10

Let's just think for a moment about how children repeat what we do instead of what we say: in this way our actions influence others.

Because it is the best way to keep the word of God alive, because He wanted it that way, because beyond the teachings that the Holy Bible leaves us, much more important were the examples of unconditional love that the Holy Father has left us as a legacy invaluable.

“Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” Psalm 118:25-26

Challenges A good solution so that we do not feel disappointed every time we find an obstacle on our way to God that we must overcome is to see it as a challenge, a gauge that will tell us how strong our Faith is and how strong our patience. We must put aside the question of whether we can achieve it or not: God knows yes.

“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” Revelation 3:5

Once they're outgrown, they'll be part of your accomplishments. Just as the Olympic competitor exhibits the medals obtained throughout his career as an athlete, we can also do the same with the achievements we have obtained by successfully walking the path of the Lord; by overcoming the tests that He puts in our way, the same ones that make us a better person day by day. Such tests overcome become new acquired virtues, which contribute to strengthen our faith and have more tools to serve God.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

These are messages from God. Thus, it is very important how we see the trials that are presented to us daily. One small idea is to see such trials as what they really are: indirect messages from God that tell us that we need to strengthen this or that part of our personality, which in the future will be reflected in a new virtue that we will have acquired. It is in such cases that we must ask ourselves what God intends for us to exercise with such a test.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

These are messages from God. Thus, it is very important how we see the trials that are presented to us daily. One small idea is to see such trials as what they really are: indirect messages from God that tell us that we need to strengthen this or that part of our personality, which in the future will be reflected in a new virtue that we will have acquired. It is in such cases that we must ask ourselves what God intends for us to exercise with such a test.

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelations 3:21

Test your Faith. The obstacles that we must overcome in our passage through this world are small tests that we must overcome by relying on our Faith;

They are necessary indicators that tell us what state our Faith is in, so we can know if we need to exercise it, strengthen it or simply make use of it when we need it or when some brother or sister also needs it.