For many of us from the Christian tradition, Lent is the traditional time of giving up something as we focus on the Easter season and the resurrection of Jesus. As a kid, I remember my Catholic friends joking about giving up M&Ms, soft drinks, or bubble gum. It didn’t seem to fit what Jesus had done on our behalf, but as a child, that was huge sacrifice!

Looking from a grown-up perspective, it is easier to see the tremendous disparity between Christ’s sacrifice and what we offer in response. There is really nothing we can give the Son of God that he does not already have. Even our best commitments fall far short.

Does this mean we should forget the tradition of Lent altogether? Not quite. What if we chose instead of denying ourselves something we normally take for granted, we chose to do something out of the ordinary to help someone else.

-Maybe showing kindness to that co-worker who nobody likes to deal with
-Sending some money to help refugees fleeing from Libya
-Volunteering in your church or with a local charity to help those in need

Don’t just give something up for Lent; give to others for Lent. When you do, you’ll find you’re truly living out the love Jesus has in store for those who follow him.

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DILLON
BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith.
Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has
investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books
include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J.
Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at DillonBurroughs.org.