Making a life

One of the most powerful words I have ever come across is this, ‘we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give’. It is sure better to make a life. It is to outlive one’s earthly existence by way of one’s impact continuing to affect lives positively long after one is physically no more. And this is by our contribution, our giving to our world.

I have always known, also, that a life lived well is an accumulation of days lived well. Ps. 90: 9-12 dwells on the shortness of our existence and shows us the need to have a daily countdown if we are to tread the path of wisdom. There’s the need for daily accountability on our lives. We need to end each with an appraisal of our contribution or otherwise in the day. And ultimately, we need to know if our undertakings in the day have in any way contributed to the overall purpose of God for our lives.

So, is there any contribution from my life today? It is as we give that we add meaning to our lives. And everyone sure has something to give. You don’t necessarily need to have so much before you could give. We can still recall the poor widow in Luke 21: 1-4. We must look for an opportunity to make a contribution each passing day, an opportunity to put smile on someone’s face and make the world a better place. Don’t wait till you can start an NGO.

Indeed on a daily basis, we set out to do one or two things that we might brighten our chances of making a decent living but we must realize that life is not about what we get only but what we give in return. If we are sensitive enough, we will notice several opportunities that pass us by on a daily basis by which means we could actually give. Give a smile, give a helping hand, take time to have a heart-to-heart talk, give out physical items of need, etc, etc.

To cap it all, what you give has a way of coming back to you. An adage goes thus, ‘when you point a finger at someone, the remaining fingers are directed to you.’ So, not only are you adding colour to the world, not only are you setting yourself to earn a life but when you give, you are indeed sowing a seed from which fruit you will surely have a portion. Luke 6: 38 says, ‘give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.’

Seize an opportunity now to make a contribution and surely, your life is being extended.