What's Right? What's Wrong?

The topic for March is Giving. Giving, as opposed to possessing, means to hand over or part with something one owns to someone else. this could be ones time, talent, treasure, or anything equally valued by most people. Giving is something that doesn't come easily to most people. Human nature leans much more toward getting than giving. the attitude begins to change only when one begins to understand that giving benefits the giver even more than the receiver. "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

When it comes to giving, most people always put themselves first. A few always put others first. All the rest of us fall somewhere in between. Where do you fall on the continuum of giving? Formal giving of ones treasures goes back thousands of years to Old Testament biblical times. It was called tithing; it was in the form of a tax. "You shall truly tithe." It meant paying one-tenth of one's wealth to the church for religious functions. Though not commanded in the New Testament, church members still view tithing as a guide for responsible financial giving. In fact, it encourages one to go even beyond tithing that reflects the believers faith and love for God. This may also apply to ones time, talents, and more. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Unfortunately, the vast majority of people view giving as an imposed-upon obligation rather than a privileged opportunity. For example, according to certain church officials, the average giving in most Protestant mainline denominations is two percent. they go on to say that members who give what they can, when they can, give an average of $460 per year. Those who pledge a specific amount of dollars each week give an average of $880 per year. Those who pledge a percentage of their income each week average $1,210 per year.

It's worth noting, for example, of those who tithe, seldom if ever does one stop once he or she starts. A few even give more. None gives less. When asked why, they say that they feel blessed, which supports the biblical passage: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." One theologian is on record as saying, "This is the least believed verse in the Bible." It has been stated that the best way to manage ones finances is to give ten percent, save ten percent, and learn to live on the remaining eighty percent. What do you think?

Giving is like exercising. When one begins to exercise, it may actually be painful and set one back; but the more one exercises, the better ones physical condition becomes. The better ones conditioning, the more likely one will want to exercise. As soon as one begins to reap the benefits of exercise, one will want to exercise more, not less. So it is with giving. Once one begins to reap the mental and emotional benefits of giving, the tendency will be to give more and not less. "He who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Give and it will be given to you. For with with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."