Fruitful Living
Caring for the community and one another
• Helping others can help you live longer
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”– Matthew 25:31-46.
INTRODUCTION
The parable in Matthew 25:34-40 describes acts of mercy we all can do every day. These acts do not depend on wealth, ability or intelligence; they are simple acts freely given and freely received. We have no excuse to neglect those who have deep needs, and we cannot hand over this responsibility to the church or government. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others’ needs.
The point of this parable is not the who, but the what – the importance of serving where service is needed. The focus of this parable is that we should love every person and serve anyone we can. Such love for others glorifies God by reflecting our love for Him.
When we show mercy, compassion, and kindness (the marks of His Kingdom) to others straits, we are practising the merciful attitude that God expects each of His children to exhibit at all times.
1. Why are we not caring for one another
Unfortunately, the outcome of a society shifting toward individualism is a lack of empathy.–Caring about ourselves and our own welfare, but not caring about others. The effects of this include:
- Economic greed that leads to disparity.
- Neglect of the less fortunate.
- Inability to cooperate with others. Already evident in our polarised political system, where people and parties with opposing views are unable to work together to solve problems.
- The absence of self-sacrifice for the collective good.
BENEFITS OF CARING FOR OTHERS
1. Helping others feels good
There is some evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness. This heightened sense of well-being might be the by-product of being more physically active as a result of volunteering, or because it makes us more socially active.
2. It creates a sense of belonging
Helping others can help us to make new friends and connect with our community. Face-to-face activities such as volunteering at a food bank can also help reduce loneliness and isolation.
3. It gives you a sense of purpose
Studies show that volunteering enhances an individual’s overall sense of purpose and identity. This is because helping others can make you feel rewarded, fulfilled and empowered.
4. Giving helps keep things in perspective
Helping others, especially those who are less fortunate than yourself, can help to put things into perspective and make you feel more positive about your own circumstances.
5. It is contagious
One study found that people are more likely to perform feats of generosity after observing another do the same. This effect can ripple throughout the community, inspiring dozens of individuals to make a difference.
6. Helping others can help you live longer
Regular volunteering can improve your ability to manage stress and stave off disease as well as increasing your sense of life satisfaction. This might be because volunteering alleviates loneliness and enhances our social lives.
7. It will give you a sense of renewal
Helping others can teach you to help yourself. If you’ve been through a tough experience or just have a case of the blues, the “activism cure” is a great way get back to feeling like yourself.
8. You’ll boost your self-esteem
People who volunteer have been found to have higher self-esteem and overall wellbeing. The benefits of volunteering also depend on your consistency. So, the more regularly you volunteer, the more confidence you’ll gain.
9. You’ll create stronger friendships
When you help others, you give off positive vibes, which can rub off on peers and improve your friendships. Being a force for good in a friend’s life can help build a lasting bond.
10. You become a glass half-full type person
Having a positive impact on someone else could help you change your own outlook and attitude. Experts say that performing act of kindness boosts your mood and ultimately makes you more optimistic and positive.
Progress depends on our brain. The most important part of our brain, that which is neocortical, must be used to help others not just to make discoveries.” Rita Levi-Montalcini
End Note
In fact, one of the primary ways we can serve God in a very real way is to show kindness to ‘the least of these’, which includes anyone – particularly those among God’s people – who could use our help or attention. These are people who others often overlook because they cannot repay the kindness. Jesus said that when His followers practise active compassion toward others, they are actually doing something for Him. This means that if we want to see or touch Jesus directly, we will have to look for Him in people who are hurting or in need.
Both the faithful and unfaithful were unaware of times when they encountered Jesus in life (Matthew 25:37-39). Even those who did the right thing were seemingly oblivious to when they acted with compassion. It seems that on those occasions when they helped others, the act or actions were not unusual or special in any way; serving others was simply a way of life for them. All of this shows that true service to God often takes place in the more routine and unassuming areas of life – when no one else notices. But God always notices when we do something for Him, and He will reward us accordingly on judgement day.
Stay blessed!
By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org
Fruitful Living
Qur’an: A Book of Guidance beyond Ramadan (Pt.2)
The Structure of the Qur’an
The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters (Surahs), classified into Makkan and Madinan chapters:
•86 Makkan Surahs – Revealed in Makkah before migration, primarily focusing on faith, monotheism, and the Hereafter.
•28 Madinan Surahs – Revealed in Madinah, covering laws, governance, and societal justice.
Each chapter contains divine instructions, addressing spiritual, moral, and legal matters.
The Qur’an itself testifies about its revelation:
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion…” (Qur’an 2:185).
The first revelation occurred in the Cave of Hira, where Prophet Muhammad was commanded:
“Read in the name of your Lord who created—Created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous—Who taught by the pen—taught man that which he knew not” (Qur’an 96:1-5).
This event marked the beginning of divine communication between Allah and His final messenger.
The Quran as a book of Justice and Morality
“Indeed, Allah commands you to act with justice, to do good, and to give to relatives, and He forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.” (Qur’an 16:90)
This text is often recited in Friday sermons (Khutbah) as a reminder to believers about the core values of Islam: justice, kindness, family ties, and avoidance of immorality and wrongdoing. It serves as a comprehensive command for ethical and moral behavior in both personal and societal affairs.
The Quran Commands Modesty in Dress code
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 33:59)
Explanation of the Verse:
This verse was revealed as a directive for Muslim women to wear the jilbab—a long, loose-fitting outer garment— that covers their bodies when they go out in public.
Allah commands the Prophet to instruct his wives, daughters, and all believing women to adopt a modest dress code to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments) instructs Muslim women to cover themselves in a way that distinguishes them as modest and chaste women.
That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. This means that modest dress helps identify believing women as respectable and pious, preventing harassment or harm from ill-intentioned people.
Allah’s Mercy in the Command
The verse ends with (And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful), showing that Allah’s commands are for the protection and honor of women, and those who struggle with observing them can seek His forgiveness and guidance.
The Qur’an as a Guide for All of Humanity
The Qur’an is not restricted to any race, nationality, or social class. It is a universal book meant to guide all of humanity—men and women, the rich and the poor, Arabs and non-Arabs. Allah says:
“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (Qur’an 54:17).
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Qur’an 21:107).
This means that no one is excluded from the mercy of the Qur’an. It is a guide for the lost, a source of hope for the despairing, and a moral code for all societies.
* The writer is the Metropolitan Chief Imam of Kpone Katamanso
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai – 1 BN Michel Camp, Tema
Fruitful Living
Bearing the fruit of love
But the fruit of the Spirit is love ………… – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
The tendency of us human beings is to love only those that we find convenient to love. And that I guess it makes sense, but it does only in our selfish nature. The question then is: Is it really possible to love everyone?
We will not get the chance to meet every one of the 7 billion plus people living here on earth, but chances are high that each of us will get the opportunity to meet at least 100 people in our lifetime. Of the figurative 100 people we’re likely to meet in our lifetime, how many have we actually connected through the chord of love? How many have we loved, as Christ commands? Or has our focus been on only the loving, the lovely, and the loveable?
If we want to be truthful, we will admit that some people are downright hateful, and make better enemies than friends. Nothing will make us happier than to just avoid or ignore them when they’re around us, and to try to forget that they exist as soon as they’re out of our sight. Jesus knows about such hateful people in the world for He had a lot of enemies and suffered at their hands. He knows how easy it is to concentrate on the easy people. It’s why He reminds us:
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. – Luke 6:27-35 (NIV).
Who then are the enemies that come to mind? The ones that have gossiped about us, stolen from us, killed our loved ones, cheated us of our rights, made attempts to kill us, do not wish us well at all, and done or possess all the bad things that define an enemy from a friend?
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back,” is what Jesus is telling us.
Unfortunately for us, no matter how hard we try, we can’t by ourselves love people the way God wants us to do. We’ve been too hurt and are too scared to really let go and love people as we ought. Too many people have done too many bad and unforgettable things to our dead ancestors and living relatives, to us in our childhood that still hurt us. We have heard a lot of horror stories about what happened to neighbors, colleagues and friends’ friends. We have read novels and watched too many movies. Hence, by age thirty-five most people have usually worked out an acceptable formula of those to love. Yet none of these changes God’s command to bear the fruit of love.
God knows that our formula isn’t good enough for what He knows He has deposited in us. He knows that we are also capable of loving those who are not our friends, and He called our attention to loving beyond duty, really stepping out of our comfort zones to where we would allow God to love others through us, including our enemies. He reminds us: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5. Bearing the fruit of love is possible only through Christ, a provision that’s been made for us.
Stay blessed!
For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@ gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
