Giving is an
expression of our hearts showing how we feel about others. For God so loved the
world that He gave… When He made us, God put an insatiable desire in us to give
also. We’re most like God when we give. Giving should be a way of life.
Giving has always
been view as good for our soul. Researchers are now finding out that giving is good
for our heart also. Charitable work and giving literally makes the heart grow
stronger. It is a fast cure for depression, anxiety and despair. It is a remedy
to greed. When we give back, we reduce stress and add years to our lives.
Many secular individuals
and companies today have put philanthropy on top of their list because they
realize that giving back bonds and produces stronger team members. Warren
Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Skoll (eBay), Google and others give away millions of
dollars every year because they’ve learnt the Biblical principle of giving away
their money. Is there any wonder they’re prospering!
The Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
We all know the story of the widow’s mite. She gave all she had and two
thousand years later, we’re still talking about it! It is not the size of our gift that is important but the attitude of
our heart in which we give. When we give, we inspire others for centuries
to come.
When we give, we increase our influence
and build a legacy. My mother passed
away when I was one year old. My father put my brothers and I, in an orphanage
hoping we’ll get a better chance at life which we did. A group of Sunday school
ladies from America sponsored me with $12 a month. It fed me, sent me to school
and gave me a chance to hear the Gospel. Today, I’m living my dream taking the
same mantle to help thousands of others. I talk about my Sunday school ladies
who sustained me at every opportunity I get. Their legacy continues. This is
the power of giving.
Sow according to where you want to go
with your finances. Most people give
based on their earning. However, I like to challenge people to think in reverse.
Set your giving goals and God will replenish them accordingly. For example, if
you want to give away $10,000 per year, you can expect God to bring you at
least $100,000. This is based on giving back 10% of our income to God’s work. The
only cap to giving is how much you can receive.
One of the biggest hindrances to giving
is to think that our gift is too small. We’re okay with unconscious giving – dropping the loose
change in the charity jar or telling someone to keep the change because it
jingles in our pocket and we don’t like that. However, when we’re about to make
an intentional donation, we have all sorts of thoughts crossing our mind. “What difference will it make? I have bills
to pay. Someone else can write a much bigger check.” Don’t let that be you.
Next time you give small money away, remind yourself that you’re not just
parting with a piece of paper or scraps of metal, you’re providing a bag of
vegetables, pair of shoes, blanket or medicine for a sick child. A handful of
quarter can provide a handful of rice – the only meal of the day for a family.
Every small gift makes a big impact.
End of the year is
the biggest time for giving back. Let me leave you with a few thoughts that
might ignite your philanthropic interest. Give to a cause that you believe in.
Give to people and organization you have a relationship with or through a
recommendation of someone you know. Give, because you care not because you feel
obligated. Give, because your giving will have eternal impact. Money
can be deceptive but giving is divine. Giving is one of the most selfish things we can do. When it comes to giving,
everybody wins.
A Chinese proverb says, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a
nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a
year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you
in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and
poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get
back” (Luke 6:38 NLT).
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