Tidings of Summer & Joy is in full swing, and the countdown to Christmas is on! An exciting part of Christmas each year is finding the perfect gift for the people we love and care about most. What if we put the same amount of energy and thoughtfulness into our generosity and charitable giving? How can our gifts have the most impact and meaning? Here are five practices to help along in your generosity journey:
- Stretch your giving. Trust God. We are not called to give only when it is comfortable—after all, that’s not what Jesus did for us! As Paul urged the Corinthians believers to match the generosity of the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8:1-7. We should do the same with our generosity
- Focus on causes, not amounts. Whether you have $600 to give, or $600,000, choose the beneficiary of your generosity wisely. Where will your gift have eternal impact as well as temporal impact?
- Partner to solve needs. Is there a world problem that burdens your heart? Find individuals who have the same heart to end world problems and create a giving circle to tackle the issue.
- Pass on the value of generosity. Generosity is contagious. Encourage your family and friends to join you in the generosity journey. The Tidings of Summer & Joy generosity challenges are a simple way to encourage others to give alongside you.
- Make a commitment. Unexpected acts of generosity are wonderful. But there is also a place for making and keeping a promise regarding charitable giving. Whether that’s to yourself, your family, or an organization, plan it out and take it seriously! One way to accomplish this it to make a recurring grant through your donor advised fund.
Which of these practices has your name on it? Maybe one of these areas is speaking to your heart as something you can practice more or start implementing in your life. It’s ok to start small, with making generosity an everyday habit, and then letting that grow and build into more and more radical, Christ-like generosity!
About The Signatry
The Signatry seeks to inspire and facilitate revolutionary biblical generosity across generations. Through donor advised funds and other innovative tools and resources, families are empowered to live generously, modeling biblical values for future generations and making a greater impact for causes that align with their passions. Since its founding in 2000, The Signatry has facilitated sending over $4 billion to organizations around the world that are dedicated to solving the world’s greatest problems.