Sometimes, it’s tempting to count the “almosts” in life. The missed shots or dropped passes may not tally on sports scoreboards, but as Christians, we like to give ourselves at least partial credit for a number of deeds that never quite make the transition from thought to action.

After all, thinking of others means our heart is in the right place, doesn’t it?

• “I almost stopped to get that homeless person a hot meal.”

• “I came ‘this close’ to buying extra school supplies for kids who might not have any.”

• “I wish we would have remembered Missions Sunday was today.”

• “Next time, I’ll offer to help with child care for that single mom.”

Merely noticing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those around us doesn’t accomplish anything.

Even passers-by acknowledged the beaten, robbed, left-for-dead man on the side of the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. Only the Good Samaritan came to his aid.

In this New Year, let’s replace the positive sounding “almost” with the more realistic phrase “not quite” when it comes to caring in a literal sense for those around us.

As we step forward into this second decade of the 21st century, perhaps it’s time to take inventory of our good intentions. Write them down. Make a plan. And then let’s make 2010 the year we act upon these magnanimous desires God places upon our hearts.

In spite of our best excuses — the shaky economy, time constraints, perceived limitations of all kinds — we cannot call ourselves followers of Christ if we aren’t willing to serve others. By satisfying only self, we merely succeed in robbing ourselves of profound blessings each day.

Where do we begin? By developing an ever-deepening generosity of spirit. When we commit to putting others first, we not only see them and their needs, but we embrace the opportunity to help.

Givers don’t accidentally pour themselves into people’s lives — they make a conscious choice to see what’s happening with those around them, and then they work to make others’ circumstances better. For most of us, placing another person’s needs — especially those of individuals outside our inner circles — may be taxing. Yet with intentional thought and practice, instinctively sharing our time, talent and treasure can become a lifestyle.

Needs are varied, and the responses can range from a well-timed phone call to a handwritten prayer to a folded bill pressed into someone’s hand. Not all giving is monetary, of course. Those who write generous checks often lament that they don’t expend enough of themselves. One challenge for the New Year might be not only to help fund programs, but also to carve out time for people in crisis.

Those of us who lead lives we label as “too busy to help others” might do well to reflect on how much time we devote to gratifying ourselves. Is every half-hour spent in front of a computer screen necessary, or has social networking replaced real encounters? Do we prioritize a weekly television show above more meaningful, difference-making endeavors?

On the other hand, money is critical to so many worthy ministries and parachurch organizations — The Christian Chronicle among them. Buying food, providing medicine, printing Bibles in various languages and rebuilding homes and church buildings ravaged by hurricanes takes funding. When many contribute to these efforts, the broad-based support indicates so much about us individually and collectively. In the Chronicle’s case, we depend on readers like you to pay for rising costs such as printing and postage. Without you, we could not keep informing, inspiring and uniting Churches of Christ.

This much is true: We can’t out-give God. But we certainly can use the resources he provides on every level to bless those all around us, with all those who give and receive seeing and feeling his love.

May we as the body of Christ be a catalyst for a generosity revolution in 2010!