7 Ways You Can Be Generous

Plan to Be Generous – Part 2

Let me share a story with you.  Brain, my best friend, and I, more than 20 years ago dreamed of being where we are today.  We knew back then that if we obtained the things we actually see today, we would have arrived and our desire for more would no longer exist.  How wrong were we.

The Drive to Be Progressively Better
Now let me explain why I mention this.  We had desires to obtain and be more than what we were then and that same thirst still lives in us today.  And the key to it all, in hindsight, we’d never have gotten to this place without being tithers-intentionally generous.  We not only had to have a thirst for what we wanted, but a thirst to be more generous than the average person so that we could have what average people would never experience.  In more recent conversations, we discussed plans that would take our giving to levels that equal more than most Americans earn in a year’s time.  This is what being generous does.  It creates favor in all areas of your life.  I was reading, don’t quote me on this, in the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, if you need something, you should find a way to be generous in that very same area.  In other words, learn to give in the area of your greatest needs.

What Brian and I have experienced all happened because we had a plan to give.  It’s not by accident.  You need one and we are here to help you develop your plan.

Places You Can Give
By having a plan, you can give in areas that you desire to give-places that will make you cheerful about your generosity.  What I’ve found is that the more you focus on being generous more opportunities become available.  Don’t think of being generous as you losing money, things or resources.  Think of it as the key to unlocking the door to success in areas that have been closed to you.

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Let’s get real.

Here are several areas that are near and dear to our hearts:

• Our local church.  This should go without saying, but the easiest place to be generous is to your local church-the one you attend.  This will require you to look beyond reasons not to give, but rather look for reasons why you should give there.  I could give you some other alternatives to consider if you have a problem giving to your local church; just ask below.
• Other churches and ministries.  For many of us, our local church isn’t the only church or ministry organization we follow.  You probably follow others like I do.  For example, Joel Osteen’s messages inspire and enlighten us.  So why not support what benefits us?  We should and so should you.
• Angel Tree by The Salvation Army.  The Angel Tree initiative is a Christmas focus.  During the season of generosity, you can give to Angel Tree to make Christmas for other children as great as the Christmas your children experience.
• Red Cross, United Veterans, Hannah Home, The Foundry, etc.  These organizations are dedicated to helping people in need and those who are trying to get back on their feet.  Pamela and I have given to all of these organizations at some point in the past.  Once we were able to give a car to the Foundry who has an auto center for program participants to service, detail and prepare vehicles for sale.  There is no shortage in ways you can give.  You just have to see the opportunities; they’re all around you.
• United Way and your company’s benevolent fund.  Many companies that we work for in the U.S. support The United Way and/or have some type of benevolent fund you can participate.  It’s just one way companies along with their individual employees can give back to the communities in which they do business.  Even companies benefit from giving.  It opens their business up to the hearts of the people they wish to do business.
• Amazon Smiles.  Amazon Smiles is one of the more recent ways you can give back.  Since online shopping is becoming more commonplace, Amazon has created the Amazon Smiles website that sell its same products, but when you make a purchase a percentage is donated to the charity of your choosing.  Whether you give directly or indirectly, planning to be generous makes life better for more than just you.
• Random Acts of Kindness.  Last but not least and one of our favorite ways to give is through random acts of kindness.  This was inspired by our local church where you find a way to bless those around you.  Pamela and I have taken this a step further.  We’ve decided to send a small gift to everyone we know on their birthday all year long.  As a part of our Family Plan, we realize that most people never receive anything good in the mail.  So we decided to do a little something about that, at least for those whom we know.

With planning to give, we always want to make sure we have the right motives.   We give because we are givers and we aim to keep the right motive and right heart as it relates to being generous.

Today is Friday!
Use what we have shared to make your own “giving” plan and add it to your very own Family Plan.  While Pamela and I have put together the above list of ways and places to give, there are tons we don’t know about.  Share some of yours with us by leaving a comment below.