Giving

[Starise]

I was curious if anyone here has a set criteria when they give to individuals and causes. Now let me say I'm not a wealthy person, so my giving needs to be measured with wisdom. I also realize that giving can be far more than simply a financial gift, yet saying we will pray for someone if we should be helping them is kinda shallow in my opinion and I have bible to back that up.

I have often heard persons say they have felt 'led' to give to a person or an organization. I can say I have also felt this leaning at times but can't explain it except to say I think about doing it at times and I credit the Spirit with this.

If I am asked to give to an organization I will look deeper at the organization. Take Goodwill for instance which is a well known charity organization in the US that takes used belongings for free, refurbishes them and re sells them. I will check to see what the CEO is making or if there is a lot of cream at the top of the organization. One such similar organization I have heard has the top brass making huge salaries( not Goodwill). The United Way claims to be a distributor of money to many well deserving entities but I really know very little about the entities they give to so I haven't given to them. WE can give to Worthy as well and I see no reason not to do so if you feel led. I guess I tend to be more critical of the much larger charities because of the aforementioned "cream at the top" issue. "IF" anyone knows for sure of any organization that is abusing or has abused their funds please state it here.

Specifically giving to ministry or your local church over and above the normal amount can be a good thing. I sometimes tend to be critical here too because I've been on outings with pastors ( not at my church now) who will whip out the church credit card for just about anything. Other more financially successful churches seem at times to me to be very frivolous with their funds. These sorts of things I have observed give me a bad taste in my mouth for some of it. Yet maybe I am being to over bearing here and should understand that what one values as important others do not. Doing the "Lord's work" with ministry and church monies can get into some grey areas. That's all I'll say on that. Most churches and ministries try to be financially transparent by posting what they do with our money, yet playing devil's advocate here- you can squeeze an awful lot into misc. accounting expenses and most will be none the wiser. In working for a partially state funded institution I have seen what can happen when people have money at their disposal. It doesn't happen often but it does happen.

Then there are the individuals we come across. In one recent case, a person who cuts my hair stated that they had their oil tank fixed but could not afford oil for heat and they were burning kerosene in a small heater to stay warm. Kerosene heat is a miserable way to heat a home because it robs the oxygen in the space and it gives a terrible kerosene smell. Not to mention they will probably spend more money on buying small quantities of kerosene than just filling their oil tank. I had the thought to see if I could help with oil, my wife was behind it if I felt the Lord leading me to do it but she was adamant it should be done secretly. I would normally agree with this and would have probably suggested it. In this case if I were in their shoes I would not like a person doing something like that on my property without me knowing about it since they have to show up to do it. This is why I thought asking permission first made more sense. Alas there is a disagreement in the chain of command. What if they deliver the oil while the person is gone and they don't know they received it? 

Should we place conditions on our giving? It can be difficult to gauge a person and/or a situation sometimes, and some one time gifts just seem like dumping a gift into a big bottomless hole. If I buy the oil it won't solve the problem that they will need more oil later and I probably can't do it again. If we give a meal to a stranger we fed him or her for a day, but who will feed them tomorrow? Are we simply extending in inevitable? If the Lord would have saved any of us based on whether we deserve it or not, probably none of us would make it. Reaching out to help a person that clearly got themselves into trouble can be a good thing if they are trying to get back on track.

Thoughts?

[Mama Etna]

I am actually picky about charities. I always have been.  It all goes to how they spend their money.  I usually give to my local church because the money goes to helping people and financing the missionaries they support.

[AnOrangeCat]

46 minutes ago, Starise said:

I was curious if anyone here has a set criteria when they give to individuals and causes. Now let me say I'm not a wealthy person, so my giving needs to be measured with wisdom. I also realize that giving can be far more than simply a financial gift, yet saying we will pray for someone if we should be helping them is kinda shallow in my opinion and I have bible to back that up.

I've come to strongly agree with this and tend to go through a vetting process based on how great the need is and how credible the source seems to be. So I also do research, check for scams that use similar or identical wording, and so on. That said when I do give it tends to be without conditions but with encouragements and prayers and a dash of discretion. If giving to a known or suspected alcoholic or drug addict I'm less likely to give cash and more likely to buy groceries or essentials.

[Starise]

1 hour ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I've come to strongly agree with this and tend to go through a vetting process based on how great the need is and how credible the source seems to be. So I also do research, check for scams that use similar or identical wording, and so on. That said when I do give it tends to be without conditions but with encouragements and prayers and a dash of discretion. If giving to a known or suspected alcoholic or drug addict I'm less likely to give cash and more likely to buy groceries or essentials.

I guess it's the vetting process I'm still working on. Since both my wife and I work I include her in any discussion about money that involves giving or any large financial thing. Generally speaking she is the more conservative while I tend to be more open on some things. I value her wisdom though. She is often right far more than she is wrong about anything. Often simply reconsidering a few factors puts a decision in a whole new light. She is good at reminding me of things I might not have considered.

I only bring the nameless person in my post above to illustrate a real situation and how things can sometimes get "complicated" in giving. As it turns out this person lost someone close to them who was helping out financially, so this was one reason for consideration. What I didn't know was there might be another person living there now as I have reason to believe this. If this person is able to help financially, then maybe my money would be better given somewhere else. 

Sometimes I hear giving referred to as one of the spiritual gifts. I don't think any of us are excluded from giving if we are called on to help someone. I don't see giving as only something wealthy people can do. I believe most of us have some capacity to give. No pressure here. Just making a point. If God isn't calling you to help, then don't. Many use the "guilt trip" to cause others to do something they want done. This is more clearly called manipulation. I have personally run into this in large charitable organizations who are always looking for help. If you are unable to follow through with it then simply say 'no'. For the longest time it was hard to tell if it was really God wanting me to do it or if it was subtle coercion. To be fair-the old saying, " No good deed goes unpunished" just comes with the territory. Helping another will cost you time and maybe money. God can call you to help and yes, it's going to put you out some. One man locally here gives away free Thanksgiving meals every year to anyone who shows up. You might imagine how popular his outreach is, yet he needed volunteers.He brings in truckloads of food. I volunteered to help one year. I'm not patting myself on the back here, just saying it was a LOT of work. Not only preparation but the cleanup. It took many volunteers to pull it all off. There can be some satisfaction in helping, feeling God used us in some way to help. This man is in no way attached to any charity. He just decided it was what he was going to do every year. He doesn't look like what some people think a good Samaritan looks like- Lots of tattoos, earrings and built like a WWF contender. In short, you wouldn't want to get into a scrap with him if it came to that. 

I don't think most people want to take a handout. I don't unless it's absolutely necessary. Never been on any kind of assistance. If it came to that though and I couldn't find a way to make ends meet it would be my very last resort. 

The socialist entitlement mentality has hurt those folks who sincerely want to find a decent job and make ends meet. Unfortunately too many people are on the public dole and expect a free check monthly while expending no effort to be productive in any way. It's part of the reason we are in the mess we are in. I don't see social security as a free anything. You worked for that. You put into it. Anyone who contributes should get it back. Sadly those of us at the end of it might not get any of it back. How can a government 23 trillion in debt give us anything? I'll save that one for another thread

 

 

[The_Patriot21]

It seems to me if Gods leading one to give to a specific person/organization, one should give, period. What they use it for isnt our concern.

Thats just if were led. If were just giving because we want to, prudence and wisdom as well as research are important.

[Jayne]

Yes, the Goodwill CEO makes a lot  of money.  But Goodwill isn't a place for poor people to shop, anyone can shop there and pay low  prices.

Goodwill is for giving poor people jobs.  I support that.

[missmuffet]

4 hours ago, Starise said:

I was curious if anyone here has a set criteria when they give to individuals and causes. Now let me say I'm not a wealthy person, so my giving needs to be measured with wisdom. I also realize that giving can be far more than simply a financial gift, yet saying we will pray for someone if we should be helping them is kinda shallow in my opinion and I have bible to back that up.

I have often heard persons say they have felt 'led' to give to a person or an organization. I can say I have also felt this leaning at times but can't explain it except to say I think about doing it at times and I credit the Spirit with this.

If I am asked to give to an organization I will look deeper at the organization. Take Goodwill for instance which is a well known charity organization in the US that takes used belongings for free, refurbishes them and re sells them. I will check to see what the CEO is making or if there is a lot of cream at the top of the organization. One such similar organization I have heard has the top brass making huge salaries( not Goodwill). The United Way claims to be a distributor of money to many well deserving entities but I really know very little about the entities they give to so I haven't given to them. WE can give to Worthy as well and I see no reason not to do so if you feel led. I guess I tend to be more critical of the much larger charities because of the aforementioned "cream at the top" issue. "IF" anyone knows for sure of any organization that is abusing or has abused their funds please state it here.

Specifically giving to ministry or your local church over and above the normal amount can be a good thing. I sometimes tend to be critical here too because I've been on outings with pastors ( not at my church now) who will whip out the church credit card for just about anything. Other more financially successful churches seem at times to me to be very frivolous with their funds. These sorts of things I have observed give me a bad taste in my mouth for some of it. Yet maybe I am being to over bearing here and should understand that what one values as important others do not. Doing the "Lord's work" with ministry and church monies can get into some grey areas. That's all I'll say on that. Most churches and ministries try to be financially transparent by posting what they do with our money, yet playing devil's advocate here- you can squeeze an awful lot into misc. accounting expenses and most will be none the wiser. In working for a partially state funded institution I have seen what can happen when people have money at their disposal. It doesn't happen often but it does happen.

Then there are the individuals we come across. In one recent case, a person who cuts my hair stated that they had their oil tank fixed but could not afford oil for heat and they were burning kerosene in a small heater to stay warm. Kerosene heat is a miserable way to heat a home because it robs the oxygen in the space and it gives a terrible kerosene smell. Not to mention they will probably spend more money on buying small quantities of kerosene than just filling their oil tank. I had the thought to see if I could help with oil, my wife was behind it if I felt the Lord leading me to do it but she was adamant it should be done secretly. I would normally agree with this and would have probably suggested it. In this case if I were in their shoes I would not like a person doing something like that on my property without me knowing about it since they have to show up to do it. This is why I thought asking permission first made more sense. Alas there is a disagreement in the chain of command. What if they deliver the oil while the person is gone and they don't know they received it? 

Should we place conditions on our giving? It can be difficult to gauge a person and/or a situation sometimes, and some one time gifts just seem like dumping a gift into a big bottomless hole. If I buy the oil it won't solve the problem that they will need more oil later and I probably can't do it again. If we give a meal to a stranger we fed him or her for a day, but who will feed them tomorrow? Are we simply extending in inevitable? If the Lord would have saved any of us based on whether we deserve it or not, probably none of us would make it. Reaching out to help a person that clearly got themselves into trouble can be a good thing if they are trying to get back on track.

Thoughts?

You need to be careful who you give money to. I have been ripped off before. Gave money to the Red Cross and they lost my check. I had to stop payment. I don't give money to those who have a cardboard sign on the street. If their need is legit there is a lot of help out there for them.  

[Starise]

56 minutes ago, The_Patriot21 said:

It seems to me if Gods leading one to give to a specific person/organization, one should give, period. What they use it for isnt our concern.

Thats just if were led. If were just giving because we want to, prudence and wisdom as well as research are important.

You are very good at condensing the most important thoughts into a few sentences. I can only speak for myself, but I feel a little better if I know more about the thing I'm giving to so I guess I fall mainly into the second category. On some occasions though I remember doing some crazy things  I won't share here because it might sound like I'm tooting my horn. They were spur of the moment things with no real thought other than to do it. I didn't even know the persons.

I'm generally in that second category. I was in a grocery line the other day and the person in front of me was a little short. I offered to make up the difference for him and he would have none of it. " I was a union man and I always made good money." Then he gave the clerk a credit card. He seemed insulted that I would offer. I didn't expect the 5 minute description of his financial status lol. It was only a buck geesh! I would have probably reluctantly thanked the person and took it if it were me.

[Marathoner]

I don't discriminate, giving to any who ask as I am able. I remember how the Lord gives to me --- He has given everything to me --- without consideration of my worthiness. Christ has humbled me with His undying love, so it's an honor and joy to pass along that which He entrusted to me to others. I am but a steward of His provision, after all. What He has given to me is not mine to keep.  

[Starise]

53 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

You need to be careful who you give money to. I have been ripped off before. Gave money to the Red Cross and they lost my check. I had to stop payment. I don't give money to those who have a cardboard sign on the street. If their need is legit there is a lot of help out there for them.  

And this is how the Salvation Army raises most of their funds. I think they are legit.I could be wrong. I remember hearing a person who represented the Salvation Army saying they were especially low on funds this years due to COVID and all of the people who are not working.