The Importance of Giving - Part 3

“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.” - Benjamin Franklin

This is a great quote that succinctly sums up the problem with money - namely you can never have enough of it due to our human inclination toward greed and avarice. I believe that the only way to break the back of greed in your life is by giving away a portion of your funds.

Taking a step back for minute, it’s important to note that the only unrenewable resource we have is time. In other words, we’ve got a certain number of days, weeks, years to walk this earth and then it's over. During our life, each of us exchanges at least eight hours a day of that most precious resource (time) for money, which we’ve earned on our respective jobs. Bottom line, we trade our life for money every day.

Perhaps that’s why we’re so inclined to “hoarding and keeping” our individual finances rather than “sowing and reaping.” Despite that personal reluctance to give, we need to be more willing to help each other. Otherwise, it seems that the alternative default is more government programs and interventions.

I would rather see local churches, shelters and communities helping their area neighbors that are in desperate need instead of a displaced bureaucracy in Washington, DC.

Ultimately, giving begins with each of us on an individual basis, as evidenced by this Bible scripture in Acts 20:35 “…we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

There are a lot of worthwhile causes and charities you could give to. If you don’t know where to start, start with your local house of worship or a local chapter for one of these reputable organizations:

http://www.worldvision.org/
http://www.salvationarmy.org/
http://www.stjude.org/

If you don’t have disposable income to donate, then try volunteering some of your time or your skills with a local group that could benefit. Your contribution - regardless if it’s time, talent or money - to virtually any legitimate charity or non-profit organization will have a positive impact on someone else’s life.

And who knows, the life you change could be your own.