We lead busy lives. Plain and simple. For most of us its balancing school and homework mixed with a part-time job, athletics, friends, and the list goes on.

Sometimes it seems like we are just focused on us. Do we do this on purpose? I would like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and say no. We don’t want to be consumed with ourselves. We know we are supposed to be others focused, right?

So why don’t we spend time doing things for others? The truth is, for as many excuses as we could come up with, there are that many needs and then some that just keep multiplying, not only around the world, but locally as well.

Jesus didn’t tell us in Mark 16:15-18 to stay inside of our comfortable bubble and reach only those people that come up to us asking questions about Jesus and our faith. No! He told us to G-O, Go! To go into the world requires action on our part. We have to take the initiative.

The needs are great, but unfortunately the workers are few. There needs to be that sense inside each of us that our lives are about others.

I think for each person this sense comes through different ways. Maybe you’ve been on a mission trip, or done volunteer work and had a life-changing experience. Maybe you heard a convicting message and made a stand. Or maybe you just heard that still small voice on the inside telling you what you should do.

Regardless of the how or when, it’s this sense that there is something outside of ourselves that should motivate us to serve others.

It says in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

So where do we start?

Well there are many ways to find places to volunteer online. If you have a specific ministry or organization you want to work with just visit their Web site and find out how to volunteer.

A great Web site that I want to highlight is VolunteerMatch.org. When you visit this Web site you can type in your address and find places that need volunteers. They have a wide variety of opportunities to fit your interests.

This is just a starting point, but I have no doubt that when we decide to give to others we’ll truly understand what the Christian life is all about.