Today marks the fourth day of December, which is often considered the month of giving. With Christmas around the corner, we will be celebrating the greatest gift on Earth, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. This is also a time where we will be giving friends and family material presents, and the gift of our physical presence. This month, I want to talk to you about the Season of Giving and navigating with life’s greatest gift.
The Spirit of Giving
Money is the leading cause of stress in American families. We don’t make enough money, and too much of it goes to bills or taxes. Many people don’t give because they don’t see the wiggle room in their budget to do it safely, but research shows it is one of the leading causes of happiness in America. How does that work? Money stresses us out but giving sets us free. It seems paradoxical, but I believe it to be true because giving changes us.
Giving Teaches You To Let Go
When you give to someone else, you let go of the finances with which you used to get that gift or that you gave away. Letting go of money is hard, but when we do it, we begin to also let go of money’s hold over our lives. You begin to view money as a tool, which is what it was always intended for, as opposed to our sustainer.
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
-Isaiah 46:4
When we give and let go, we begin to put money back in its place. God is our sustainer, He said it twice in this one verse! Put your trust in God, not in your finances.
Giving Brings Purpose
I can promise you this: someday, you will get tired of just chasing money. Eventually, you will be working too hard and too long to enjoy life. When you are able to give back, you gain a sense of purpose. There are many studies out there to show what happens psychologically when you give, but I will just say that the feeling after you have given is immense joy and satisfaction. You will feel it. There is nothing better than helping other people.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Giving Makes the World a Better Place
I know it’s cliche, but giving makes the world a better place. We aren’t here to just grow up and die. I truly believe we are here to make a difference.
Leave this world a little better than you found it
-Robert Baden-Powell
I would rather my legacy be that I helped a lot of people than that I made a lot of money. The way that I do this is through my non-profit organizations, WealthBuilders and Tricord Global. You can give by tithing to your church, purchasing from social businesses such as TOMS shoes, give to ministries, go on missions trips or many more other options!
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
-Matthew 25:20
How do you give back? I would love to know, write it in the comments below!
Amen and amen. Good word!
Thank you for your comment Cindy! God bless you!
I am a home builder. Mission trips to overseas places or trips in the city you live in is a great way to give back. Through hundreds of houses, additions or remodels, the most memorable and enjoyable were the one I willingly didn’t charge for?.
Thank you for your comment Rob- that is an encouragement to me! God bless you!
This so blessed me today! That money is just a tool and God is our sustainer. I love the verse from Isaiah 46:4. Thank you for sharing this today!!! I believe God makes a way for me to be a bigger giver in His kingdom to help others.
Thank you Lisa! I’m glad you enjoyed the blog- I couldn’t agree more!
Hi Billy Epperhart. I have a safe house for baby’s and I am also a Foster mother. Financially God is my only source and means. I live in Heidelberg South Africa and have stepped out in faith. God has and is providing our every need. Billy you have written “Letting go of money is hard, but when we do it, we begin to also let go of money’s hold over our lives. You begin to view money as a tool, which is what it was always intended for, as opposed to our sustainer.” Billy I now view money as a seed that I am sowing. Deuteronomy 32:10-14 is His WORD that I am standing on that He Himself will sustain me and “Ryan’s House” and every baby soul that HE Himself will “bring and provide for”
I love following all your teachings. Michelle Cornthwaite .
Michelle, thank you for your comment! This is such an encouragement to me and a great reminder that God is our sustainer. Thank you for sharing- God bless you!
Thank you Brother Billy. Yes this is so profound and True. If we do not pay attention as you have done here, we would get sucked into centering our lives and purpose around making money.
Thank you for your comment Georgy! I appreciate you reading the blog! God bless you!