“It is more blessed to give than to recieve” – Acts 20:35
“Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege” – John D. Rockerfeller Jr
“Life, like a mirror, never gives back more than we put into it” – Anonymous
There are many books that have been writen on the secret of wealth. Wealth and financial gain are by far the most sort out topic in the world. It’s perhaps the major reason why you want a career change, perhaps the reason you started that business, perhaps the ultimate reason why you are studying in that school. You want to be rich, you have worked hard and perhaps you really deserve it.
One of the greatest secrets of wealth of all time however is to give! It seems a paradox, that to get more, you need to give more. We don’t need to be rocket scientists to discover that life lived for self is meaningless, whether you like it or not, you spend most of your time everyday for someone else. If you are an employee, that’s clear, if you are an entrepreneur it’s even clearer. But all these we can do, without conciously doing it, and doing it gladly.
One of the news items that have rocked the media in recent times is the story of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Bill Gates has been the worlds richest man for 12 years consecutively, at the same time is being acclaimed the greatest philantropist of all times. Warren Buffet the second richest, by hard work and self denial decided to give 80% of his fortune to the philantropic cause that Bill and Melinda lead. If you think it’s easy for them to give because they are rich, you can think again! There are few passions in this world that compare with teh passion of getting more! More money, more riches, more, more, more! They are not giving because they have, they are giving because they have learnt to give!
How about you? Do you want to wait till you are super rich before you start giving? Perhaps that is the reason you will never be that rich! One of the things I have observed about life, that God decides to give wealth to people who he is sure will make it available to those who by factors beyond their choice do not have it! Check out history, and you’ll probably discover, that the richest of men, happen to be the greatest of givers.
Hear what some of the most blessed men that ever lived had to say about giving!
“We make a living by what we get but make a life by what we give” -Winston Churchill
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not what he is capable of receiving” -Albert Einstein
“You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself”- Harvey S. Firestone
“Who dies rich, dies disgraced” – Andrew Carnegie
Start giving where you are today. Give to people who don’t have what you have. Give to people who by choices not their own, cannot afford a good life. Give to the little orphans who can’t fend for themselves, give to a cause that will live beyond you. The God that controls resources looks at the earth, and says, if I give more to this one, will he not give more? It’s not all about money, give your time, give resources, give knowledge, give opportunities. Those that bring sunshine to the lives of others, can’t hide it from themselves, the hand that gives the rose never looses the frangrance (Bejah Hada). Give – it does wonders to the soul. Give – You need to give up to go up!
“And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me. ” -Matt 25:40