10+ Practical Ways to Love People Well

Jesus tells us to love others (John 15:12), but that doesn’t always mean dumping thousands of dollars into a person, embarking on a short-term mission trip, or starting a Bible study for underdeveloped communities.

Most days, it looks like a tired but genuine smile leaping across someone’s face when they see you, a kind “how are you?” and a gentle listening ear, a sibling doing a chore in your place, or being invited to an event even after you thought they’d all but forgotten about you.

Sometimes, biblical love is practical. Thoughtful. Gentle, kind, and precious.

But do you struggle to extend that kind of love to others? Take a quick peek at fourteen simple suggestions.

1. Send a Card

Thoughtful cards can go a long way. Cards are pretty open-ended since you could cover a range of topics. Want to extend sympathies, express thanks, or let them know you’re thinking of them? Put it in a card! Cards are also easy to keep on the counter, mantle, or dresser as a daily reminder that someone cares.

2. Smile

Sometimes, a smile lights up someone’s day. So don’t forget to smile and laugh with others.

3. Do Something with Them

It can be simple and cheap or complex and expensive, but have fun together and build one another (and your friendship) up. You can take a nature walk, cruise through town, meet for lunch, watch a movie, or play a board game.

4. Watch Their Kids/Pets Free of Charge

Do you like kids or pets? Are you looking to bless a neighbor or couple? Offer to watch after their kids or pets for a few hours while they’re out.

5. Invite Them

If you’ve ever been excluded, then you know how it feels for your friend when they’re left out of the fun. What if we embraced inviting them into the group, even if they are a little immature, loud, or weird? Even if they can’t join, an invitation could mean the world to them.

6. Listen and Let Them Talk

We have all been talked over, interrupted, or ignored. So what if we listened to others? What if we listened like we want others to listen to us, with kindness and full attention?

7. Gift Thoughtfully

Some people love to get gifts. A personal and thoughtful gift goes a lot further than a gift you give to everyone, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. You could even make it yourself.

8. Enter a Challenge with Them

Sometimes we struggle to stick to our goals when we go solo. If your friend wants to run a marathon or practice for a test, who better to keep them accountable than you?

9. Do Their Favorite Activity

Do they have a sports obsession or adore making crafts? Offer to join them for a little while, even if you don’t think you’re that good at it.

10. Leave Notes of Encouragement

Write notes, quotes, or Bible verses on sticky notes and leave them where your friend will find them.

11. Respect Them

This means using your manners, holding open the door, moving out of the way when you’re too close, and keeping your promises. Even if the other person isn’t “perfect” or “respectable,” treat them the way you want to be treated and the way God wants His children treated.

12. Use Your Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1–11)

Are you an encourager, a gift-giver, or a wise friend? Depending on what your spiritual gift is, you can use it to lead a ministry, encourage a stranger, or disciple baby Christians.

13. Pay for a Day Out

Spend time with them in a context they enjoy. Consider experiencing a new restaurant together, exploring a park you’ve never been to, or strolling through your local Farmers’ Market.

14. Pray for Them

Prayer is simple but profound. Just a few words spoken to our Creator can change hearts. So pray for broken relationships, the people you care about, and even the people you don’t honestly care about. Ask that God would shape them into faithful believers.

Of course, these are just a few ideas. But loving well isn’t about a one-and-done thing—often, it means having a relationship with one another.

You might not get any benefits in return. After all, the end goal of serving shouldn’t be about you or even the other people. It should be about God and what brings Him glory.

Biblical, brotherly love can be practical. It can also be impactful, breaking down walls, shining a light into dark places, and changing lives.

But it starts with a simple, caring action or word.

It starts by serving God and others and loving them through thick and thin, drought or storm, valley or mountaintop, light or dark.