What have you given lately?
- Thread starter Richard Mulcahy
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- Jan 25, 2019
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During the past year, a lot of people have gone through difficulty and hardship, not just with their health, but also with finances, with businesses collapsing and many facing redundancy.
I know a number of people in this situation who would find it very difficult to increase their financial giving, but they have given a lot of emotional and practical support to others who are struggling through the pandemic.
I am in no way undervaluing the importance of giving money to charitable causes, but I think it is important to remember that giving can take on a wide variety of forms.
It could be looking after someone's pet while they are ill or in hospital.
It could be providing help for a family member or friend who is vulnerable.
Or being sympathetic and helpful towards a stranger who is in distress.
Although money is useful, and even essential for most things, it is not the only way to give charitably. People can offer their skills and their time. They can share resources that they have with others. They can provide a helping hand and a listening ear. Often this type of giving is more costly because it requires additional time and effort, in some cases a great deal of hard work and physical labour. It requires empathy, patience and resilience.
As well as having the joy of seeing someone being helped, it also enables us to learn about other's experiences. We become more compassionate and understanding. Very often we become less judgemental and prejudiced as we begin to truly appreciate the position the other person is coming from. It cultivates empathy which should be the foundation for all our giving.
I know a number of people in this situation who would find it very difficult to increase their financial giving, but they have given a lot of emotional and practical support to others who are struggling through the pandemic.
I am in no way undervaluing the importance of giving money to charitable causes, but I think it is important to remember that giving can take on a wide variety of forms.
It could be looking after someone's pet while they are ill or in hospital.
It could be providing help for a family member or friend who is vulnerable.
Or being sympathetic and helpful towards a stranger who is in distress.
Although money is useful, and even essential for most things, it is not the only way to give charitably. People can offer their skills and their time. They can share resources that they have with others. They can provide a helping hand and a listening ear. Often this type of giving is more costly because it requires additional time and effort, in some cases a great deal of hard work and physical labour. It requires empathy, patience and resilience.
As well as having the joy of seeing someone being helped, it also enables us to learn about other's experiences. We become more compassionate and understanding. Very often we become less judgemental and prejudiced as we begin to truly appreciate the position the other person is coming from. It cultivates empathy which should be the foundation for all our giving.
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- Jan 16, 2019
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I don’t believe the OP intended any wrongdoing with the thread. He was simply sharing something on his heart. Nor should we readily assume public statements on giving are boastful.
Sharing is a part of life. We discuss good and bad experiences. Helping someone can provide immense joy and bless them in turn. Hearing it can inspire others to do the same. We can influence others for good deeds by our behavior. Some organizations work with people to draw attention to their cause. Including Christian ones.
~bella
Sharing is a part of life. We discuss good and bad experiences. Helping someone can provide immense joy and bless them in turn. Hearing it can inspire others to do the same. We can influence others for good deeds by our behavior. Some organizations work with people to draw attention to their cause. Including Christian ones.
~bella
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- Apr 13, 2011
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I work in the medical field, so I spend my day working with broken people. I've given my time, my heart, and my energy to the needy. I give thanks throughout the day to God that I have the opportunity to serve others in His name. I give what I feel is reasonable to my church and don't worry about it, really. Every day I try to give, but sometimes I just don't have anything to share. That's just the struggle of life. I'd say the most I give on a daily basis is my perseverance in spite of my brokenness.
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- Aug 30, 2008
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God has always directed me to give to the needy. I give as much as my budget, and my wife allows me to give. I normally give around $100 per week to missions supporting the hungry + around $30 to a ministry supporting the disabled. If I could give more I would.
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JesseBassett
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Instead of monetary donations, I give of my talents to my church. As I am its janitor. So I feel like I give back to God's house every time I clean the church.
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RickardoHolmes
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Excellent Points my Friend I have learned that there is a positive correlation with helping others and feeling better about myself. I want to do my part to make the world around me a better place. I believe that people can accomplish much when they work together.
I try to keep most of my charitable works close by, or within lines of organizations I know(College scholarship funds in honor of a specific person, for example) or local school booster clubs.....There is a church in the town that is predominantly black, while I do not want to be seen as the Whitey throwing money at the problem (poverty) this church is very charitable, has cleaned up the area around them (once a very dangerous area, not so much anymore) They maintain transparency of their finances. Which many churches do not. So I have no problem handing money over to them to help with specific projects.
Since I am not a member of a church here, I am not obligated to tithe, which means that I can give as much as I want where and to whom I want. Our Buddhist temple just opened back up, in years past that has been a large percentage of our charitable donations. In addition, I donate freely to a local ecumenical ministry, which rates very highly on charity navigator.
I long ago quit donating to overseas missionaries and international charities. I echo the Comments made on Post #2 by PAVEL MOSKO. International fraud, laws, and crime prevent true recipients of donations from ever reaching them.
The two best books on this Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo and oddly enough, Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux. Missionaries and Money for aid do far more harm in Africa than good.
I have opposed Missionary work more or less for ever, I do not believe in it or support it, and if people knew what certain types of humans are often engaging in fundraising for this work, then they may be better to take heed to the old adage "Charity begins at home" and start by helping those in their neighborhood and local community first.
That is the best place to help by being the good neighbor. That is a good step forward to making one's world a better place.
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Seems many of us don't die to ourselves...
Just think if the churched lived out Acts 2:42-47...
Just think if the churched lived out Acts 2:42-47...
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