A Genuine Interest in Others

When I was a freshman in college a woman named Laura came and knocked on my dorm room door. She was on staff with a campus ministry and proceeded to ask me a few spiritual questions. I politely answered, took the gospel tract she gave me and closed the door. I tossed it aside, chuckling with my roommate over the odd conversation.

But Laura didn’t give up on me. She came back again and with a gentle, sweet spirit asked me to go out for coffee. It was one of the first times I remember someone pursuing me one-on-one. I didn’t understand why this woman would want to get to know me? I decided to risk the awkwardness and go. She asked me lots of questions and listened intently as I shared about my long-distance relationship saga, along with my other new college adventures.

Laura took a genuine interest in my life. A few weeks later she asked me to join a freshman girls’ Bible study. Although I didn’t have a huge interest in reading the Bible, I liked Laura. I joined the study more to spend time with Laura than grow in my knowledge of God. But God used that friendship to draw me into a relationship with Himself.

In Philippians 2:19-22, Paul is telling the church that he hopes to send Timothy to them soon, for their encouragement. “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Paul knew he could count on Timothy to be others-centered, to look for ways to serve the church instead of himself. Timothy was someone who authentically cared about others.

What opportunities do we have to show a genuine interest in others? If instead of being absorbed with our own problems or agendas, we sought to meet someone else’s needs? Maybe it’s simply listening to someone’s story, stopping to talk with an elderly neighbor, or asking how you can pray for someone walking through hardship. It’s easy to weigh our accomplishments by checking off our to-do list. Yet sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can pave the way for God to do so much more