A Brief Riff on Giving

Work with me on this one. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe deeply, naturally, in and out. Feels pretty good doesn’t it? Now breathe in but don’t breathe out. Breathe in again until your lungs are full. Hold your breath. How did that feel just before you choked and exhaled?

Giving and receiving are a natural part of life. If you are not doing both, something is wrong. You did some work to breathe in the oxygen you need to live, but did you “earn” an atmosphere full of the gas mixture necessary to sustain your life? Not really, you’re just grateful for the air, especially towards the end of the first paragraph. When you breathe out you give carbon dioxide to green plants that require that gas for photosynthesis to occur. The grateful plants return the oxygen you need for your life.

Are you giving: time, treasure, emotional energy, the gift of the open heart? If you aren’t something is wrong. Don’t believe me, ask your heart. How much? Well, the Bible says:

2nd Corinthians Chapter 9 Verse 7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I believe that the Lord is a lot more interested in the state of our heart when we give than the amount we give. Are you giving with a cheerful heart, in gratitude to God for a universe that sustains your very existence or a heart filled with resentment, like my heart, at tax time. If you are not giving with a cheerful heart, ask why. Maybe you are giving out of your comfort range. Stretching your comfort range a little is a good thing, it will make your heart stronger, more able to give and receive. Stretching too far can leave your heart damaged for years, unable to properly give and receive. I’ve been there. It hurts.

I give my blessings to all who read this post. May God pour out his blessings on you, your family, your finances, your life.