Find yourself in serving others

From owning expensive cars and fancy clothes to having fine dining and happy vacations, there are many ways through which one can spend hard-earned money. There is absolutely nothing wrong with rewarding yourself, but what would happen if you reward someone else instead? You could share the joy of rewarding others; the people in need perhaps! Of course, as serving others gets one rewarded and blessed. Thus, it is always good to recall that making a living comes by what we get, but we make a life by what we give to others.

Here comes the significance of charity as a religious and social obligation. One needs to think of how much support he/she does for it? Nothing or not even enough to serve those people who are less privileged and families in need, for instance! Those who deserve our contribution of giving back to the community though they never ask for it. It is true that charity begins at home, but it should never end there. Many people all over the world are in urgent need of help, donations and support including those who are closer to our reach in this country.

Our deeds of giving should extend beyond just family, relatives and loved ones. We are social creatures by nature; our human purposes could be fulfilled by engaging with the individuals, society, neighbourhood, charities and even the ones we work or live with. We should be all for one and one for all, especially in hard times. In fact, the charitable activities we do return for our own good as they benefit our psychological, spiritual and emotional well-being eventually.

Helping others by sacrificing time or donating money always creates an improved sense of purpose in life or work and inner satisfaction. If a person performs a deed that continues to benefit others in a good way, he/she will keep collecting rewards for this charitable act as long as it benefits the recipients. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) advised, “When a person dies his works end, except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from and a righteous child who prays for him.”

Nowadays, we observe many local charitable associations founded and spread almost in every corner of the country. One can find even more than one charity in the same town or village. Most of these charities are established and managed by young Omani volunteers (male and female) who are devoted to serve the local community and meet the urgent needs and necessities of families in need in different aspects of life.

Undeniably, most of those volunteers if not all are serving this noble cause out of philanthropy. Possibly, all are reflecting on Mahatma Gandhi’s saying, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. As all charitable associations, all over the country, serve a common noble cause, their forces should be joint, so all could deliver their missions and achieve objectives.

Therefore, those charitable associations can work together to raise funds for a collective initiative. As a combined endeavour, it could undoubtedly serve a wider segment of society with different interests and needs. Joint charitable initiatives and activities could be organised to serve various occasions and purposes. Possibly, fundraising events, for instance, can be held to a number of target audience or beneficiaries of different associations.

Likewise, to ensure having sustainable financial revenue for those associations, charitable or investment projects might be established with the support of private or public contributions. To tell the truth, such ideas would probably assist charitable association to run their overall missions and day-to-day activities.

Charity is always intended to serve bringing justice, balance and kindness to individuals and society alike. One should remember that what you do for yourself dies with you, but what you do for others and the world remains and is everlasting.