9. Be Virtuous And Beneficial
I wonder what our world would be like if each of us would find somebody to be good to every day. What would our city be like? What would our offices be like? What would our schools be like if we made it a priority to brighten somebody else’s day? Almighty God says,
“Be virtuous and do good to people. Indeed God loves the virtuous and good doers”. (Qur’an; 5:93)1
That means we need to be on the lookout. We need to be proactive. We need to have the mindset of, “Who can I bless today?” “For whom can I do a favor?” You cannot just sit back and wait for the need to come to you. You have to go after it. Imam Husain2 (peace be upon him) said, “If People wish you and need you it is the God's blessings, so do not get tired of it”. 3
Sometimes it is easy for us to get so caught up in our own little world that we are focused only on ourselves. “I have got my plans. Do not get me off my schedule.” “I would love to help you out with some work around your house, but I am sorry, this is football season. I just do not have the time.” No! we were not created to live selfishly. We were created to make a difference in the lives of others. An author said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone that cannot pay you back.” The Qur’an tells us about Jesus that he said,
“God has made me blessed, wherever I may be”. (Qur’an; 19:31)4
Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said that it means He made me beneficial.5
Friends, all around us are hurting people who need our love and encouragement. Do not miss the miracle of the moment. Do not be too busy, or insensitive to the needs of those around you. Be willing to be inconvenienced. Be sensitive and pay attention to those around you, your friends, your coworkers and your relatives. Listen to what they are saying. We should not miss opportunities to do good whenever situations come across our paths to bless people.
