Remembering these six ideas from Dignity Serves:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:19
At Love INC we strive to serve each and every person in a dignified and loving way. By remembering these six ideas, we can better serve and love our neighbors:
All people bear God’s image.
Each person has a purpose in God’s world. We all have the responsibility to shape our own future and be contributors in God’s kingdom!
All people have gifts.
Often times we wrongly assume someone in need does not have gifts to offer. It is part of our job to help discover the gifts that each person can bring to the table.
The closer to a problem, the closer to a solution.
Without relationship, it will be hard to find a long-term solution. It’s important to get to know the person in need to better understand the problem and work towards a solution together.
The greater the cultural difference, the longer the time to trust.
Short-term change is rare. Change is hard, long and sometimes is never visible to us. It’s important to be patient and to be aware of cultural or socioeconomic differences that exist when in relationship with someone.
Our desired impact should be matched with commitment.
We all desire to make an impact, but like to see immediate results. It’s important that each of us invest the time it takes to build relationships in order to see true impact.
People are more important than change.
This principle is key in order to keep people and relationships at the center of everything we do. We are not called to produce change but to love others and trust in God’s promises to heal and make all things new.
Excerpted from dignityserves.org, published by polisinstitute.org
