Joyful Giving

Several years ago Nancy and I reduced the number of agencies to which we direct our "charitable giving" in order to make larger contributions to a few selected ministries and programs. We had some regret in not sending a small check to a few agencies, but mostly experienced the joy of offering more significant support to programs and ministries close to our hearts. That joy deepens each time I read an annual report, notice the impact of a ministry we support, or hear about an issue in which we are engaged. Unexpectedly, our annual donations have also influenced some basic lifestyle decisions and our use of our free time. Giving joyfully has deepened our overall joy.

Last month the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving released its most recent figures describing charitable giving in the United States. In 2012, charitable giving grew a modest 3.5% (1.5% when adjusted for inflation). The overall total remains lower than when our recent recession began. Individual philanthropic giving in the US in 2012 was 11% lower than in 2007. Last year's figures related to religious giving fell for the third consecutive year. Before 1995, charitable giving related to religious institutions amounted to 50% of the overall total. In the most recent figures, giving to religious institutions was 32%. I do not cite these figures to prompt us to wring our hands and cry, "Woe is me!" I cite them to encourage us to be joyful in our giving. The apostle Paul declares that God loves cheerful givers. That rings true. It also seems true that those who give out of joy are the most generous. Joyful giving leads to deeper happiness and faith regardless of the overall trends.

Joyful giving begins with a holistic approach. Theologically speaking, it begins with consideration of the overall stewardship of our lives. We have three basic gifts to offer: our time; the things that we do well or enjoy doing; and our money and other financial resources. Scripture and tradition tell us that all three of these are gifts from God, who calls us to use them faithfully. Faithfulness looks different in the varied stages of our lives. For example, during the years when Nancy and I had multiple children in college, we had less "disposable income." Yet, we also spent less time attending our children's activities. During those years we spent more time participating in hands-on ministries in ways than we do now. Rather than feeling guilty about what we lacked, we sought the joy of using what we had in ways that reflected what we most valued.

Think about time. All of us spend some time earning a living or managing our resources, enjoying family and friends, and tending to our bodies, minds, and spirits. For most of us that still leaves some of our 168 weekly hours. Using that time in ways that support what we most value leads to joyful giving.

Ponder our abilities. All of us do something well and we all have interests that we have developed. Unless we utterly exhaust ourselves in using those abilities in our vocational pursuits, we have abilities to contribute to the relationships, organizations, and issues that matter most to us. Deciding to make those contributions leads to joyful giving.

Reflect on our money. We all have bills to pay for life's essentials, but unless we are living either in poverty or beyond our means, we have some funds, however modest, to contribute somewhere. Using those funds intentionally to support what we value most leads to joyful giving.

All of this is stated too simplistically, but joyful giving begins with a fundamental decision to live "on purpose": to decide what is most important and to reach for that with the resources we have. That does not mean that we would not like to have more, but joyful givers focus primarily on what they have, not on what they lack. Perhaps that is why Paul believes that God loves cheerful givers. Cheerful givers know they're blessed. God's blessings surround us all, but surely God enjoys folks who recognize and give thanks for them.

           

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

LP