One of the greatest responsibilities every person has as a parent, ministry leader, or volunteer, is to leave something of eternal value behind you everywhere you go. In my opinion, there is no better way to do that than to invest into the children and youth of the future generation.
Question…If you are not currently investing in some way into the next generation through the local church, why not?
What are you doing right now that you know will outlast you later?
Here are five simple things that you can do to make a difference that outlasts your life in the life of kids who aren’t even your own:
1. Volunteer to serve in children’s or youth ministry.
No matter your age, there is a place you can serve if you just ask. You can serve in a variety of ways, even if you’re not interested in teaching a class or getting up in front of anyone.
Many workers are needed weekly just to sit in a class and supervise children in order that the class can run smoothly and the Gospel delivered effectively.
There are also many other things that can be done behind the scenes from cutting out crafts to making snacks from your own kitchen.
If you’re older, why not ask your children’s pastor for a list of kids in the ministry and some of their specific needs that you could pray for.
2. Use your creativity to find ways to serve.
I think of an elderly widow in our church who bakes chocolate chip cookies for kindergarteners who memorize verses in Sunday School. She personally delivers them to the kids’ houses, gets her picture taken together with the child, and then gives them both the cookies and the picture.
I guarantee you, they may not remember everything about church, but no matter how old they get, those kindergartners will never forget the “cookie lady” who motivated them to memorize the Bible.
The same creativity to make a difference is in you, you just have to tap into it.
3. Invest your personal time and attention.
My mind immediately goes to a couple in our church who almost weekly takes a child from our ministry out to eat at their favorite restaurant, just to give them attention and love.
They have done this for our children as well as countless others who have felt the love of Jesus through a couple who sensed the need and made the choice to meet it.
You may not have kids of your own, but if you want to, you can make time to invest personal time and attention into the life of someone else’s child. It might just be exactly what a child needs – an encouraging word, someone to show they care, someone just to listen.
I’ve personally had the privilege of mentoring a young man for the past 6 years through Big Brothers Big Sisters and have found it to be a very rewarding and valuable experience.
Intentionally investing yourself into someone else of the next generation is one of the greatest ways to live a life that outlasts you.
4. Give to make a tangible difference.
Sponsor a child to go to summer church camp.
Find a specific physical need that a child in the ministry has (new glasses, clothes, shoes, etc.) and make a donation to meet it.
Ask the parents of a child if you can take them to the store for an hour, give them $20, and let them have fun.
Buy a case of new Bibles (you can usually find award Bibles at a dollar store) to be given away to kids who don’t have them.
The ideas of ways to make a tangible difference are only limited to your imagination. Jesus said if you give a cup of cold water to a child in His name you would be rewarded.
5. Make kids feel valued and respected.
How many times do we look at kids and their childishness and see them as nothing more than a nuisance.
Those little “nuisances” will one day be our replacements. If we don’t intentionally love them and invest into them, we are truly the ones who lose in the end.
And if they sense that they are nothing more than a bother to us, what reason do they have to respect anything we have to say either now or in the future when we want them to listen to us.
Love them when they’re younger so you can reach them when they’re older.
Prov. 29:21 says, He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
The children are the ones who must carry on the cause that we say we live for and are willing to die for. So what could possibly outlast our life more than what we invest into them?
In what ways do you find it easiest to live a life that outlasts you by make a difference in the next generation? I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave a comment by clicking here.
