The power of generosity

I am writing this article after church, hence why I am inspired to write about giving. There are several things that I heard today about the principle of giving that really hit home, not just as a Christian, but as a continuous student of money.

Firstly, we give because we are acknowledging God as the owner or the source of our provision. The pastor mentioned something we all need to hear. When we are in problems, we run to God.  However, our money does not run to God first. When we have issues we don’t go to the bank, salon or boutique to iron out our challenges, but when it comes to spending, they are usually the first to receive the fruits of our labour. Do you see the irony in that?

Not too long ago, some churches released their financial statements and people complained about how much money churches “earn”. There have been some religious institutions that have abused this, but not all of them. Not every church has done what they were supposed to do with this money, but some of the uproar has been without perspective.

Hundreds of millions and even billions go through the hands of churches, but when telecom companies, schools, banks, car dealers and even celebrities make the same amount of money from us we don’t complain. It is about what we place value on. We can give just a portion of our money or we can spend all our money on these other items.

VALUABLE STUFF

A few banks going rogue, has not stopped us from operating bank accounts. If you have had a bad experience with giving, it should not stop you from giving. You just need to change the receiver.

Giving puts your heart in the right place. Your financial motives cannot be simply about your wants, your needs, etc. Your heart is where your treasure is. Does it show in our spending? We like to think our hearts are with God, our families, our relationships, etc. If we were to track exactly where our money goes, does what we say or like to think we care about appear?

What percentage is going to all these nice things we claim we value?  We may just see we actually place material things, entertainment, airtime, and the bar above things that we should value. I believe if giving becomes a habit, it empowers you to actually plan your finances around what you value. It necessitates you to spend less on other items. Then you actually realise that you don’t actually need what you thought you needed so much and that you will not die if you reduce spending on certain things.

Giving also helps us deal with the scarcity mentality. We are constantly hearing and talking about not having, yet we keep doing things that ensure that we continue to lack, such as reckless spending and getting into debt. Many people falsely believe they do not have enough to give. When we constantly reinforce to ourselves that we do not have enough, of course we are going to see that we don’t have enough and to do the things that make sure we stay in this mindset.

However, when you give, you start to see that you actually have something to give and your perspective changes from lack to abundance. This so critical in a world where lack is constantly been thrown in your face. You buy the latest phone and another one comes out two weeks later. Got a promotion? The things that you can buy quickly surpass even this increase in income.

You like your home until you visit a friend in their new house. We will never give if we are waiting to have enough and if you don’t give, you miss out on the benefits of giving.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS

 It’s the same way we always think we don’t have enough time to exercise. When we actually create the time to do it, we realise indeed we do have the time and somehow we make it work.  It’s the same twenty-four hours. You didn’t get an extra hour a day with your gym membership.

Or how we (women in particular) always believe we don’t have something to wear for a special occasion, but when buying something new is completely out of the question,  your mind becomes creative and you manage to put pieces together in a way you had never thought of.

You start seeing your current wardrobe in a new light with new possibilities. Giving does the same thing with our attitude towards money. You start moving away from all the reasons why you don’t have. You start looking at how things can be done rather than why they can’t be done. 

Apart from what you give this could be other financial areas in your life.

How debt can be paid, how investments can be done, how businesses can be started. You may not receive back directly what you gave and how you gave it.  That should never be the motive. You are not purchasing a return with your giving. 

However, I believe one of the blessings that come your way if you allow it to, is your perspective. Giving will transcend just money. Another important resource that can be shared is time.  And as Winston Churchill put it – “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”