Let's talk about giving

Since Thanksgiving and the holidays are upcoming, let's devote a little time to address the subject of giving, shall we?

There are essentially 4 types of giving:

• Monetary (giving money to help a person or a charitable cause);
• In-kind (giving goods versus money, such as canned food for a Thanksgiving basket for a needy family—make sure it’s something that you would buy for yourself);
• Time (taking time out of our busy lives to do something for someone else, even if it is listening & talking to them on the phone); and
• Talents (such as lending our artistic expertise to help paint the backdrop for the school or church play).

There are also ways to give:

• Cheerfully (or begrudgingly). The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver (verse). If we were to give while gritting our teeth, it is actually better to keep it and to not give it at all;
• Philanthropically out of abundance, such as when we have time on our hands to contribute to a worthy cause;
• Sacrificially despite our own need, such as when someone truly needs our expertise, and we give by not charging that person a fee (I have actually been the beneficiary of such gracious giving); and
• Anonymously, such as donating money and specifically requesting that one’s name not be mentioned or printed publicly.

I don’t mean to preach to you, but this really caught my attention: that same verse promises: “You should each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT) Wow! Did you notice the words "always," "everything," and "plenty"? I sure did.

Additional recommended reading: Bill Clinton’s book titled Giving: How each of us can change the world.