More from Bill Truran

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”

This quote is attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. It may be one of the most effective statements ever made. Let me explain using two Bible passages.

We often speak of our faith as most important, and I agree. My faith follows Christian ideals, and this includes my will for adherence to the first commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:37, KJV). This means putting God first and living my life with an emphasis on observing God’s ways.

Following my daily obedience to be loyal to God’s word and world, I will have made myself as good as possible with my God-given abilities. With this commitment, I should be in the best mind, spirit, and body. Good for me.

There’s a second commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:39).

Now, though perhaps healthy in my life, I should be ready to do God’s work. This is where the second commandment comes into play—my neighbor.

As Dr. King asked, “What am I doing for others?” Here is where some work is involved. I need to pause my life and raise the question about my neighbor. How can I help him with his struggles? How can I help her with the burdens that weigh down upon her? How can I understand how best to employ my talents to the difficulty at hand and with the time available in my day?

As Dr. King succinctly pointed out, this is an urgent issue, and it will not go away—it is persistent. I feel that through my faith, I have been granted grace by God. But that question comes back.

How can I—and how can you—help our neighbors?