Giving something: time, money or an object
It is easy to call yourself generous without ever giving anything. This quest invites you to a concrete gesture: give something today. Not necessarily a lot, but something real, that costs you a little, to someone who needs it.
What it looks like in your day
You can give in three ways, and each has its value:
- Time. An hour to help someone move, listen to a friend in difficulty, accompany an elderly person to the market, volunteer with a charity, watch the children of an exhausted family.
- Money. A gift to a charity, discreet help to someone around you, a meal paid for, a more generous tip, a contribution to a collection at your church.
- An object. A garment in good condition, an unused piece of furniture, books, an appliance gathering dust in a closet, a dish you prepared, a bouquet from your garden.
To make it a real gift, three tips:
- Think of a specific person or cause. An abstract gift gets lost. A face gives warmth.
- Give something that has value for you, or at least that isn't just a way of clearing out. Giving what you no longer want can be useful, but giving what you love is a deeper act.
- Do it without conditions. No "You'll do me a favor later," no moral receipt.
If you are in a hurry, a five-minute gesture is enough: send a transfer, drop off a bag of clothes. If you are shy, you can give anonymously. If you have little money, your time is a precious gift.
What the Bible says
Paul reports a saying of Jesus that is not found in the Gospels, but which sums up his spirit:
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." It is not a painful duty, it is a joy. Jesus also notes the value of a gift in proportion to what one has:
“And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
The widow gave only a few coins, but Jesus says she gave more than all the others, because she put in "all that she had." It isn't the amount that counts, it is the heart. And when he sends out his disciples, Jesus reminds them of the source of all generosity:
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
"Freely ye have received, freely give": what you give, you first received.
Pitfalls to avoid
Giving to be seen. Jesus warns against giving to impress (Matthew 6:1-4). Do it discreetly, without posting, without telling.
Giving out of guilt. A forced gift is not a gift. Give what you can, with joy, not what you think you owe under pressure.
Expecting gratitude. The person may be embarrassed, awkward, silent. Expect nothing: give and let go.
Ignoring your own situation. Giving doesn't mean putting yourself in difficulty. Stay reasonable and faithful to your commitments to your family.
Controlling the use. Once given, it is given. If you want to walk alongside the person, do it through the relationship, not through surveillance.
Today, choose what you give (time, money or an object) and to whom. Do it without expecting anything back.