Feeling guilty over giving to charity

[Emjay1985]

Each week I donate a little over 10% of my income to charity. I want to give more but then I feel guilty, like I'm depriving my children in some way. I pay my bills and have zero debt. My children have everything they need and quite a few of their wants. Some weeks I give over 20% because my heart breaks for those who are affected by war, famine, disease, and natural disasters. With so many suffering so much I know what I give is just a drop in the proverbial bucket but I believe every little bit helps.

I don't know how to phrase my question. Should I feel guilty about giving more? Am I being silly?

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

You are doing an awesome job. I would not feel guilty at all. Pray that God would open up ways for you to help more people. It may not be through greater giving, but through advocacy or other things.

I found I could not give as much as I wanted to charity due to financial limitations. However I became very active in trying to speak to government about the needs of others. You can be a voice for the poor in more than just money.

If you want to help me I have links from my website to topics I am trying to advocate before governments:

http://www.futureandahope.net/poorhelp.php - Help Combat Child Prostitution
http://www.futureandahope.net/north_korea.php - Stop Human rights abuse in North Korea

The following one is a bit out of date but some points may be worth considering
http://www.futureandahope.net/peaceplan.php - Middle East Peace Plan

 

[pdudgeon]

no, i don't think you should feel guilty at all about your giving. In fact, the Lord wants us to give with joyful hearts. So my advice to you would be to look around and see where you can do exactly that.....give to God with a heart full of joy.

Compassion and empathy surely have their place in our lives. But personally when i am feeling moved by compassion or empathy i offer up my prayers to God that He will move in those lives in such a way that needs will be met, and the praise will all go to God as a witness of His goodness. And that those who see this witness might also have their hearts opened to the goodness of God.

so there are two ways that needs can be met; either thru donations or thru prayers, and both are needed for things to be successful.

 

[Robban]

Each week I donate a little over 10% of my income to charity. I want to give more but then I feel guilty, like I'm depriving my children in some way. I pay my bills and have zero debt. My children have everything they need and quite a few of their wants. Some weeks I give over 20% because my heart breaks for those who are affected by war, famine, disease, and natural disasters. With so many suffering so much I know what I give is just a drop in the proverbial bucket but I believe every little bit helps.

I don't know how to phrase my question. Should I feel guilty about giving more? Am I being silly?

No, you are not being silly, first, Charity begins at home.
Some souls it comes easy to give/share, but it should be of your choosing, no pressure, if you feel for a certain Project then donate, but best reguarly,
You choose yourself, it is thought that no more than 20%,because giving brings bonuses, so not to make it appear as if you are in it for buisness reasons. But you choose.
The lowest level of Charity, is to give un willingly.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Maybe. How much of your giving is going to the people you are trying to help? Find out to see that your giving is going to where you want it to.

 

[keith99]

Maybe. How much of your giving is going to the people you are trying to help? Find out to see that your giving is going to where you want it to.

Bolding mine.

All I want to add is if the OP is giving so much money depending on the age of the kids they should consider giving time. Ideally not time taken from their own kids but time that is shared with their kids and others locally who are less fortunate.

 

[bhsmte]

Each week I donate a little over 10% of my income to charity. I want to give more but then I feel guilty, like I'm depriving my children in some way. I pay my bills and have zero debt. My children have everything they need and quite a few of their wants. Some weeks I give over 20% because my heart breaks for those who are affected by war, famine, disease, and natural disasters. With so many suffering so much I know what I give is just a drop in the proverbial bucket but I believe every little bit helps.

I don't know how to phrase my question. Should I feel guilty about giving more? Am I being silly?

You are doing more than 99.99999% of the population, so that shouldn't make you feel guilty.

 

[dayhiker]

Sounds to me like you have no reason to feel guilty.

But is there something in your past that is driving you to push this hard to give to the poor? Is there a hurt that you have that needs healing?

 

[Andry]

One of my favourite quotes is from E.B. White, author of Charlotte's Web:

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”

 

[The-Doctor]

Each week I donate a little over 10% of my income to charity. I want to give more but then I feel guilty, like I'm depriving my children in some way. I pay my bills and have zero debt. My children have everything they need and quite a few of their wants. Some weeks I give over 20% because my heart breaks for those who are affected by war, famine, disease, and natural disasters. With so many suffering so much I know what I give is just a drop in the proverbial bucket but I believe every little bit helps.

I don't know how to phrase my question. Should I feel guilty about giving more? Am I being silly?

We can only do what we can with what we have. You shouldn't feel guilty, you give what can, others are immensely wealthy who don't give anything.

At the end of the day we can't save everyone

 

[Strathos]

We can only do what we can with what we have. You shouldn't feel guilty, you give what can, others are immensely wealthy who don't give anything.

At the end of the day we can't save everyone

Very true

 

[Emjay1985]

Thank you all so much for your responses. This is an area I've struggled with for quite awhile. Nobody in my real life knows that I donate. 1. Because I don't want to seem like I'm doing it for approval, or to show off, or whatever. 2. Because my family can be quite derisive about donations and helping others.

I've always felt led (for lack of a better word or phrase) to help others in a variety of ways; prayers, words, actions, giving of food or objects or time or money, etc. It's not hard for me so I don't have to push myself. I know what its like to go hungry, cold, and barefoot. Thanks to God it was only for a few years of my life. Thanks to God I'm no longer in that situation and can now help other people again.