What does being helpful mean to a Scout?

As a Scout we promise to be helpful at all times but, What does it mean "at all times". What if I am not asked to help someone but they need help should I offer to help them? Of course we should. The 1911 BSA Handbook says "A Scout is Helpful at all times. He/She must be prepared at all times to save a life, help injured people, and share home duties. He/She Must do one or more Good Turns to someone a day." As you see in this quote we need to be ready for anything at all times. As Christians the Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:16 "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." As Christian Scouts we need to strive in our everyday lives to do good even if it is the smallest thing that you are asked to do like wash the dishes after dinner. As Scouts we should be willing to help others at all times without expecting payment. A Scout should also be helpful to his/her venturing officers. If you see that for instance your officers aren't able to plan an outing for one month offer to help out. Lord Baden-Powell's Original Scout law says "A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. And he is to do his duty before anything else, even though he gives up his own pleasure, or comfort, or safety to do it. When in difficulty to know which of two things to do, he must ask himself, "Which is my duty?" that is, "Which is best for other people?"---and do that one. He must Be Prepared at any time to save life, or to help injured persons. And he must do a good turn to somebody every day. As you see as Scouts one of the best ways to help out is to do your duty before you do anything else. Being helpful isn't always easy or comfortable for us to do. It can actually be really hard at times. You might need to give up an activity or something else that you wanted to do. As Scouts we need to be ready to do what is good for other people not just what is good for us at that moment. As Christian Scouts we need to listen to what God is telling us to do. As my closing thought God calls us to be a light in the darkness of the world not turn and run when something bad happens in an organization or to hide our faith in our churches and homes. We need to stand firm as servants of God to SHINE OUR LIGHTS in the world! As the closing I want to share this scripture with you Matthew 5:16 states "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father which is in Heaven." I hope that you pray about this and ask God to guide you to become much more helpful to others.

-David N. Tarantino