And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

Matthew 10:42, NASB

 

Do you remember when you were young and fresh and ready to "make a difference" in this world? Poll a group of graduating college students as to what they want to eventually accomplish, and I'll bet at least 50% of them are going to say that they want to make a difference.

 

But what does that mean? What does "making a difference" look like?

 

Jesus told us many years ago. It is to help someone in some way, regardless of how small that help may seem to you. People all their lives are looking for some great thing to accomplish. They want to cure diseases, they want to end poverty, they want to solve world hunger. These types of goals are noble, to be sure, but they are also so large that they cannot be accomplished. By the time we realize that we are older and tired, and we are likely just scrambling along with the rest of the pack, running the same rat race and fighting over the same scraps.

 

So, eventually, we lose sight of our dream to "make a difference" and we settle for getting what's ours. What can we do about it? What secret formula can we implement in our lives to get back to our original intent of helping others? The answer, of course, has been there all along: It is to start passing out those cups of cold water!

 

Now, obviously, Jesus was not primarily concerned with us making sure that a kid didn't get thirsty - when I was growing up, there was a garden hose in every front yard and we kids took advantage of it. And we didn't need teams of government agencies doing studies on the water quality, or other teams of government people sending out PSAs on the dangers of drinking from hoses, or more teams still of enforcement agencies to punish the parents who let their kids drink from those hoses. We just did it and we were no longer thirsty!

 

Have you ever noticed that kids didn't get dehydrated in those ancient days in which we grew up?

 

But, I digress. Just what was Jesus getting at when He said if we gave a cup of cold water to one of these little ones that we wouldn't lose our reward? The answer I have found may shock some: He simply meant that we should help others according to their needs, in any way, no matter how small or insignificant it seemed. That means if a little one is thirsty, you will give him water. If they have fallen down, you will help them get up. If you see someone struggling with a load, you will help them carry it. If an older person is going into a building, you will hold the door for them.

 

Too small? Then try this: If someone is approaching you with a frown on their face because they are tired from a hard day, smile at them and let them know how good it is to see them. If they are sad, do something to cheer them up - no matter how small that something may seem to you. If you are out at a social gathering - say a place of worship for instance, and a stranger comes in, let them know how very glad you are to see them. If someone is genuinely struggling for their daily needs and you are in a position to help, then do so. Even if you cannot help with everything, you can help with something.

 

Still too small? How about volunteering to coach, or maybe even teach a Bible class? When you really get going, you can advance beyond just giving them a cup of water and help them "dig a well" so that they won't be continually thirsty in the future. You can start praying about others who appear to be lost. It's true that we are not to judge - that's God's exclusive realm - but we can observe. How else can we tell if someone is in need of help? Then, you can go beyond merely praying for someone. You can invite them to church. Not everyone will accept your invitation, but some will, so when they get there make sure that they feel welcome. 

 

Then you can introduce them to the Savior by teaching them the Good News! "But I don't know enough" you may protest. That's fine, connect them with someone who does. And should they accept a study with that someone who does "know enough", go with them, because you clearly could use a little "brushing up" with the message of the gospel yourself.

 

The bottom line to all of this is that Jesus wants us to help those who are struggling. It can start out with simple things like offering a cup of cold water (notice that there has to be enough thought given that we make it refreshing, for a lukewarm offering is kind of pitiful) to someone who is genuinely thirsty. We can then climb the ladder by just being nice to others in whatever way we can. This will become habit after a while and you will then begin to focus on helping in more substantial ways - more eternal ways, if you will.

 

If you truly want to "make a difference" but you have gotten off track somehow, then let me encourage you to get back on. You can do it! And once you do begin this simple thing of helping people in little ways, you will find yourself changing. You will like helping others, and you will find that they will often like you for your having done so. You will begin letting your light shine more and more for Christ, and you will find that this light is good. And you will begin to realize that this "making a difference" has always been so that God might be glorified instead of yourself.

 

Someday, there will be a judgment - what will it be like for you? Will there be others there on the right side of Judgment because you helped them in some small way? Maybe you were the one who connected them to the good news of Jesus Christ. And, maybe, this all started because you gave them a cup of cold water, in whatever form that cup took, and it influenced them to get back on the right path.

 

Our life here should be a service to God and to others. This service is rarely convenient, but it is mostly pleasant, and it is always consequential. So why not begin today by actively looking for someone who is thirsty? You can be there to hand them that cup of cold water that they so desperately need.