WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 GENEROSITY / MONEY

 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 GENEROSITY / MONEY

Okay, another tough topic for me to write about.  When I think of generosity, I think of giving money - to my church, to the United Way, to non-profit groups, to my colleges, to a lot of organizations.  There are millions of organizations that could be helped by people giving to them.  And every one of these organizations (bad generalization) can touch my heartstrings with their plea for donations. 

You see the starving children in Africa.  There are flies circling their heads, The children are on top of a dump - may be going through the trash to find something edible.  The dialogue suggests that for $3 a day you can feed ten children for a week.  

Then there are the local stories.  The pandemic caused both Mr. and Mrs. Smith their jobs and they have been living on welfare for the past year.  Welfare is running out, they are getting evicted from their substandard mobile homes.  

Does my church do great things aligned with this charity? s to support people in financial (and other) troubles.  But, it also takes money to support the pastor, the staff, the janitor who cleans the building, the heating, and air conditioning bill,   Should I give money to feed the poor orphans in Africa, or to help put gas in my pastor’s car so he can make calls at the hospitals and nursing homes?  (something about don’t muzzle the oxen when it is threshing the grain - so the oxen can eat while he works!!!)

So many organizations to support - so little money - and so big a guilt trip that I didn’t support good works that I like!!!

We’ll go back to Money in a second.  But, let’s talk about the generosity of the heart!!!!

Something we write a check (or our credit card) and then pat ourselves for being “generous”!!

First, examine your motives.  WHY are you giving?  Are you really invested in this charity?  If you give from your heart, it should be because you identify with that charity?

Sometimes I give to a charity, not because I’m really supportive, but to look good.  I can’t support all charities.  (I do feel guilty if I don’t support my public radio station, or the heart association or Alzheimer’s association or Cancer organizations, or youth organizations, or environmental organizations, or political organizations.

Am I giving to get a thank you note?  Am I giving to be recognized?  Will my name should up on some list saying “Karen White, Founder’s Club” (for giving $50,000 to the organization).  

People who are generous are generally happier.  They feel good about themselves.  They are making a difference in the world.

I’ve written about our invisible ‘antenna”.  Can you sense a need?  Is God/source/infinite power/ putting this on your heart?  Men can be very deceiving.  They can tug on your heartstrings.  “Oh woe is us if we don’t reach our goal.  We might have to close shop and become homeless.  Dear Friends, please don’t let this happen.  Please give to the “Karen White Fund” soon or I might be destitute and out on the street!!”  (Do you know this is true?  Or is it an attempt to reach your emotions and not your sense of reason?).

Giving is also more than money.  Giving of your time and talents.  Over the years, I have volunteered for many organizations.  And, it wasn’t for fame or fortune!!  I did a lot of work to go on accreditation trips - analyzing self-studies, analyzing curriculum, understanding the assessment methods.  I don’t play tuba for money.  Professional musicians get paid for being good - I’m just good for nothing!!! <grin>.  Do people like our concerts?  Does playing for Oktoberfest at the nearby German restaurant help people lighten up and be happier?  

Celebrate others as a form of generosity.  Two years ago, I have Jane Doe’s day.  I took Jane to the beauty parlor (the student beauty school), then shopping, then out to lunch  - and took pictures and made a photo album.  (This Jane Doe never had anybody pay so close attention and love her in that way!!!)   Celebrate birthdays - not just with a card, but with a little party!!

Being nice and kind is being generous.  I’ve paid it forward a few times - paying for the person in line behind me at the drive-through.   Generosity is a heart - and mindset.  You are generous because you want to help people be happy!!!

I like going for coffee with friends.  Really, love is frequently spelled “T  I  M  E”, and spending time with shut-ins, with lonely people, and even just with friends is LOVE!!’’

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

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Let’s look at money and religion again.

Let’s look at more of Malachi 3 to get the context:

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

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I know (or I think I know) better than God on this (ouch - did I just write that?).  What if I have an emergency?  I don’t need to give more than I am giving do it?  And aren’t tithes Old Testament stuff anyway?

Karen, you are such a liar.  You wrote how you know God is infinite and how you trust him - and now you say “But, I don’t trust him on my finances?”  Wow - smacked on the head (again).  

*****

Lord - help me to have a generous heart!!!  Let me see “NEEDS” in others, that are real and places where I can serve mankind in real, tangible ways.

LOVE WINS!!

Karen