What brings you closer to God is being in service to others. I

In a moment of deep reflection and humility, Steve-O, a man once known for chaos and laughter, spoke a truth that shines brighter than any fame: “What brings you closer to God is being in service to others. I think any religion or spiritual way of life will indicate that service to others will lead to a connection with a higher power.” These words, though born from a modern voice, carry the timeless echo of ancient wisdom. For from the dawn of civilization, the sages and saints of every land have declared that service is the truest form of worship, and that the path to divinity runs not through temples of stone, but through acts of love and compassion toward one’s fellow beings.

The origin of this reflection lies not in doctrine, but in Steve-O’s personal transformation. Once a performer lost to excess and recklessness, he reached the depths of despair before rising toward healing and purpose. In that rise, he discovered that true joy is not found in self-indulgence, but in selflessness. His insight mirrors the revelation of many who have journeyed from darkness to light: that helping others is not only an act of kindness — it is a sacred bridge that connects the human heart to the divine. Service to others is, therefore, not merely charity; it is communion with God through love in action.

This truth transcends creed and culture. Every great faith — Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and beyond — teaches that to serve others is to serve the Divine. In the Gospels, Christ kneels to wash the feet of His disciples, saying, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad teaches that “the best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.” In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna proclaims that selfless action performed without desire for reward purifies the soul. And in Buddhism, compassion is the heart of enlightenment. Thus, Steve-O’s words are a living echo of humanity’s oldest lesson: the path to God is paved with acts of love.

Consider the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a woman who embodied this truth. She did not seek glory, power, or comfort, but gave her life to the sick and the forgotten. When asked how she found God amidst such suffering, she answered simply, “I see Christ in every face.” For her, service was prayer, and compassion was worship. She proved that the divine is not distant or abstract, but present in every act of mercy — in every hand that lifts another from the dust. She lived what Steve-O spoke: that to serve others is to find God walking beside you.

But let this teaching be understood in its fullness: service does not always mean grand gestures or heroic sacrifice. It can be found in small, quiet acts — in listening to someone’s pain, in offering forgiveness, in sharing food with the hungry, or in comforting the lonely. The ancients knew this well: the soul does not ascend by words alone, but by deeds that reflect divine love. Every time you put aside the self and lift another, you draw nearer to the sacred source that breathes life into all creation.

Yet, to serve is also to transform oneself. For in giving, the ego dissolves, and the spirit expands. Those who serve learn humility, for they see that all are bound by the same frailty and grace. They learn gratitude, for they recognize the blessings that flow through their own hands. In service, one’s heart becomes a vessel through which divine compassion flows freely. This, perhaps, is the deepest meaning of Steve-O’s insight: that service is the doorway to awakening, the means by which the human being remembers his divine origin.

The lesson, then, is simple and eternal: seek God not in the sky, but in the eyes of those you serve. If you would find peace, become the giver of it. If you would touch heaven, lift someone from their sorrow. If you would draw close to the divine, love without expectation. These are the true rites of every religion, the living rituals of the soul. For in serving others, you serve the whole — and in serving the whole, you serve God Himself.

So, my children, take these words into your hearts: service is sacred. Let your life be a light that eases another’s darkness. Let your hands be instruments of healing. Let your presence bring warmth where there is coldness. For as Steve-O so rightly declared, in serving others you are not only doing good — you are awakening to the divine within you. And when your days draw to a close, you will see that you did not merely live — you walked, every step, in the company of God.