Each of one us is born with “fight or flight” built right into our DNA. We worry about our own demise, wanting to protect and preserve the little world’s we’ve built over time. With kids, you have to daily teach them to be nice, share, and be kind. The terrible two’s on the other hand? That’s free-range, organic, all-natural, baby. 

I feel it in myself every time I utter the words “I deserve it.” I’d NEVER say it out loud in public of course. But in my head? All the time! Especially when I’ve changed enough diapers, thrown my son in the air 50 times in a row, taken out the trash, balanced the budget, and put off anything slightly work related for the entire weekend. I’ve earned some “Me Time.” 

Inevitably at this point, my son or daughter puts their face right in between me and the black mirror in my hand, begging for one more ounce of my attention than I want to give.  

And popular books, vlogs, and podcasts all encourage this idea as well. “You deserve_________” ” You earned ______________”. “Become the best version of yourself.” “Speak your truth.” #TreatYoSelf 

But with everyone on this planet focusing in unison on self-actualizing, self-identifying, self-preserving, and self-helping themselves, the world can’t actually do much to truly save itself. Because everyone is out for… you guessed it… themselves. 

That is until people decide to become givers. 

When a person decides to raise their eye-line to see other people around them, and give whatever they can away, they join the ranks of generous people. They turn selfish preoccupation into selfless ambition. There’s one less person out here just trying to become their “best version,” and more followers becoming a “generous” person (which actually is the best version, just not what most people are after). 

The real truth is that everyone is hurting, whether it’s relationally, financially, spiritually, emotionally, or psychologically. Pick a category, there’s almost no shortage of opportunities to help people. We just don’t see it because we fail to stop, look, and decide to do something. 

Which leads into the first GOAL OF GIVING…  

#1 GIVE COMPASSIONATELY 

The beginning of all giving and becoming a genuinely generous person… is LOVE.  

Caring about someone else, and doing something to show it. Having compassion for hurting people, pondering what you can do to help, then actually putting your money, time, creativity, words, passion, energy, or focus where you mouth is. Showing another person that they have been seen, heard, and accepted can change them. Do it enough times, and it can change you.  

But this idea didn’t come from nowhere; God showed us this is the model. Giving is God’s go-to move to demonstrate his Love. 

“For God so loved that He gave his only son, that whoever trusts in God will not perish, but instead inherit eternal life.” John 3:16 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” Ephesians 2:4 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 

This is THE greatest act of generosity. God sending his son to die for us, so we might have new life. Because He loved us. It also says before many of Jesus’s miracles on earth “He had compassion on them,” then he healed them. He sees them, then gives. 

And we are sent out to do the same thing: 

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.“ I John 3:14-18 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7 

I was recently asked if there can ever be any form of generosity without love? Nope. 

“If I give all I possess to the poor, but have not love, I gain nothing.” I Cor. 13 

You see? Love and generosity are intertwined. Inseparable. God is a giver, and he loves you like crazy. And we embody that as well. Just think what could happen if more of us chose to become loving givers? 

J.B. 

PS: I’m going to talk more about these “goals of giving” over the next few posts. But you can see them all here. 

Photo by Nicola Fioravanti on Unsplash. Enhanced by J.B.