When my wife and I were newly married, we were barely making ends meet. After college, I took a job with a small technology firm. The work required long hours and I quickly became bored. My boss was infamously known for telling me and my group of coworkers on Fridays at 5:00 p.m. that we would have to stay and work the weekend. The final straw came when I was passed over for a raise; I resigned. I decided to burn the ships, take a risk, and start studying hard to become a financial advisor while Kara worked as a bank teller near our tiny apartment. Our only weekly treat was the $1.25 chips and salsa at Chili’s.
Our church Sunday School class was filled with fun couples, each of us making our way in life. One early evening, high winds just about blew off the roof of the house where Reggie and Linda lived. They couldn’t afford the necessary repairs; they didn’t even have the money to cover their insurance deductible. After hearing their need one Sunday morning, a few couples in the class got together and decided to donate what was needed. Kara and I started giving up Chili’s nights so we could pitch in. Even though we didn’t have much, we had something, and we knew God could use it for something bigger than ourselves. Later that week, an anonymous cashier’s check was placed in Reggie and Linda’s mailbox. The next Sunday at church, they told all of us that something amazing had happened: someone had anonymously paid for their roof to be repaired. Fortunately, the rest of us had been practicing our best poker faces and Reggie and Linda never did learn who was behind the anonymous gift.
Giving may not be a normal part of your life right now. You’re busy with your job, your family, and your friends, and, of course, your bills that have to be paid every month. Giving is the last thing you might be thinking about. But that changes now. Good money doesn’t have anything to do with the amount of money you have. We’ve already dispelled those myths, like “Once I get a better job or a promotion and I have more money, then I will give,” or, “Once I’m older and more comfortable, then I can be generous.” Remember, what you do with little is what you will do with a lot. You don’t have to wait to win the lottery before you can make an impact. The money you have right now can be used for good—today.
Here are the four most common excuses people use for not being generous and why they shouldn’t stop you from giving.
1. If I Give, I’ll Go Broke
When our kids were young, Kara and I decided to give them each a monthly allowance. We wanted them to start learning how to manage money early in life and that giving was just as important as getting. I gave the kids four envelopes each—one for saving, one for spending, one for tithing, and one for giving. They liked the idea until they realized most of their money wasn’t meant for spending. My daughter Hannah asked, “But what if I don’t have money because I give it all away?” We assured her she could creatively think of ways to make more.
