Cultivating a Spirit of Giving

I was reading the June issue of "Town & Country" magazine (www.townandcountrymag.com) today which focused on philanthropy. They profiled several different people who are striving to make a difference in the world via their time, talent, and treasure. While those profiled no doubt have much more treasure than the vast majority of us, we are all called to give, to be generous stewards of the wealth (both material and personal) that God has given to us.

It can be very difficult to carve money out of an already tight budget to give to a worthy cause. It can also be hard to find time to volunteer one's talents when time always seems to be in such short supply. Yet, this is what we are called to do, and the rewards are far greater than what we put into the equation. There may be times when either the treasure or the time portion figure more predominantly. One with a high-power, high salary career may be able to write big checks but may not be able to be as physically present to a charitable cause. On the other hand, retirees may find themselves with relatively little income to offer but have a great wealth of time and knowledge to share with the world. We all must look honestly at our lives and decide what it is we have to give.


As parents, we have another responsibility in regards to giving. We must show our children through our example that generosity matters. If they see us donating our time to help out a worthy cause, or collecting for a food drive, or giving clothes to the needy, they will learn that those acts have value. If they are encouraged to volunteer in their teen years at a hospital or nursing home or at any other project that sparks their interest, they will develop a love of helping other people and realize for themselves that it is in giving that we receive. If they see us giving generously in the collection plate and are encouraged to donate part of their own allowance or earnings, we can plant the seed for a lifetime of sharing their wealth.

We all have been so blessed by God. Those interviewed in "Town and Country" often made the statement "To whom much is given, much is expected." The same can be said of us. We are all called to give what we have to those in need.