I have been thinking a lot about the concept of giving lately. More specifically, I have the phrase “giving out of abundance” rolling around in my mind all the time. What does it mean to give out of abundance and how does it differ from say, giving out of complacency or giving away what we have cast off? Does it matter how we give or just that we gave?
When I was in Zimbabwe in February I heard about a container full of donations that had arrived from the US from an organization that probably had good intentions. The missionaries who received the container did not say anything negative about the individuals or organization responsible. However, what I heard about the contents of the container made me angry. Along with useable medical supplies were things that were complete junk.
Why is it that we assume that because people have nothing they could use our castoffs, our broken, damaged, rusting junk and we send it half way across the Earth under the disguise of “blessing” the disadvantaged? Not only that, but we feel good. We have obviously done a good deed by sending this rusty three-legged table to a poor African country because they can use it… somehow. I am all for sending much needed goods to help out my brothers and sisters, my African family, but I think it disgraceful to send them things that they can never use. I find it embarrassing. We are from one of the wealthiest countries in the world and yet we don’t see that we should be giving to others out of this abundance. It does matter what we give. It should be more than a half-hearted attempt to “do something nice”.
African’s are the most resourceful people that I have ever met. And Africa is full of people who have taught me about true generosity. I have learned what it is to give out of abundance from people who give out of what we in America would describe as nothing. I have seen an elderly grandmother, struggling to feed her grandchildren, give fresh eggs to visitors out of custom, respect and love. I have seen ice cream cones shared among several children because the one with the cone wanted the other to experience the goodness of the treat. I been invited into homes and given meals by families with little to share but their stories. I am in awe when I see what it means to give abundantly unfolding in front of my eyes. I have much to learn.
-A Zimbabwean home where I had a meal
I want so desperately to give out of abundance and lately I have been challenged by this concept. I cannot give out of financial abundance. I am an unemployed college grad, but I want to give! How can I give out of my abundance if I cannot give monetarily? I can give of my hands. I can give of my feet. I can give of my time. Of those things I can give and give abundantly.
Last night I helped out at a fundraiser for an organization about whose mission I am totally, completely, passionately committed. Serve the Children provides access to education, healthcare, and psychological support to over 1,000 children in Liberia, West Africa and India. Having gone twice to Liberia with Serve the Children, I have witnessed the impact that this organization has on the lives of children born into families recovering from the effects of a devastating civil war. These children have a hope and a future because teachers give out of their abundance, their time and knowledge, to invest in the lives of others. These teachers often run short on food to feed their own families, but they know what it is to give abundantly.
I wished that I had spare thousands of dollars to give to Serve the Children last night, to give a “big” gift, something to impact the lives of those students and teachers. Truthfully, I had to borrow the money just to pay for the dinner portion of the event and to put gas in my car to drive down there. I gave the only thing I could and perhaps it doesn’t have the same feeling of impact that giving three thousand dollars would, but I gave it out of my abundance.
I gave of my time, of myself, and I dreamed of the future when I could give more. I dreamed of saving money every month so that next year at the fundraiser I could give a ton of money. I dreamed of buying dozens of raffle tickets or spending an enormous amount of money on a cake at the dessert auction. I also dreamed of one day going to Liberia… to stay for a long time. These are not dreams of complacency or cast-offs, but neither are they dreams of abundance. I have no idea what the future holds. I have a God who dreams bigger than I do and chuckles when I dream of desserts and living somewhere else. I feel that He would say to me that even if I used my imagination to the greatest extent possible I could never come close to what He has in store. After all, didn’t the idea of giving come from Him in the first place? He is the God of abundance.
24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped
-Proverbs 11: 24-25
I am not saying I have this figured out. It’s going to be one of those life lessons that I visit again and again. I do know it is something I want to hold onto, to see where it takes me, to encourage others to do the same.. To GIVE
www.servethechildren.com
