Part 1 – A Good Place to Begin

I love to give to others.

I love to give to others because I see the difference it makes in their lives.

But really, I love the joy I experience when I give to others.

I love the vision of living giving the Lord has entrusted to me.

Living giving is a way of life, sharing our time and financial resources.

With regard to time, I Corinthians says, “You are not your own. You were bought at a price.” (6:19-20)

Living giving is a call to advance the kingdom.

Our life was created by God and FOR God.

How we spend our time should reflect this. 

With regard to financial resources, Acts 20:35 records Jesus’s words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

We must share our resources and possessions generously while we’re alive.

Our culture focuses on saving for retirement and then handing the remainder to our beneficiaries when we die.

Our fear of running out of money creates a tendency to hoard.

Yet 2 Corinthians says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you,

So that in all things at all times,

having all that you need,

you will abound in every good work.” (9:8)

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD?

Perhaps I should trust God more.

I have let fears become roadblocks in expressing my heart about living giving.

I fear that no one wants to read about financially giving that can change lives and family trees forever.

I fear that no one wants to read about giving our time to make a positive impact on others.

I fear that no one wants to read about sharing our talents and abilities to bring others along.

I fear that no one wants to read about living giving to see the possibilities of being generous, even when one is financially stressed.

I fear criticism from my Christian family who might accuse me and say, “This is all about Lee Ann.”

Consequently, I have blogged little on the topic of giving, avoiding going public with this vision. I have idled for two years.

I’m changing that today.

I’m going full throttle to write a book to share my vision of living giving that God has revealed to me.

I believe God has called all Christians to this way of life.

There is plenty of Scripture to support this.

I’m setting aside my concern that you think I’m looking for your applause.

The Lord knows my heart, so I am going to move forward in sharing it.

I believe that this biblically-based, life-changing message is too important not to share.

The decision to begin sharing the concept of living giving is freeing to me.

I want you to experience the joy of living giving.

I believe you desire to give.

I believe that adopting a living giving lifestyle will cultivate God’s character trait of generosity in you.

You won’t be giving in order to get a “thank you.”

You won’t be giving expecting anything in return.

You won’t be giving out of obligation, but out of joy in making a difference in the lives of others.

It’s unadulterated living giving.

This manifesto is my attempt to inspire and motivate Christians who share the desire to be a generous giver just like Him.

If this resonates with you, read on.

But before I begin…

Be prepared to be God-inspired.

And to become generous givers while you’re alive.

Because when you are finished reading my manifesto of living giving,

I am going to ask you to take your first step.

Start giving for the right reasons. 

Part 2 – Calling All Givers: A Manifesto for All Who Will Hear

Givers don’t give to get accolades.

This is the most important and only lesson every giver must learn.

Real givers don’t give for recognition.

They don’t give so that a building can be named after them.

They don’t give to seek approval from others.

They give because they cannot not give.

They give God’s resources under the authority of Jesus’s higher calling to generously give.

They are compelled to give.

To change the family financial tree.

To help others in their time of need.

To help the world around them.

To share with others because they can.

Real givers wake up every day wondering how they can give to make a difference in someone else’s life.

They will even pray daily asking the Lord to show them who they should help today. 

Their mindset is to look for ways to share God’s resources with others.

When God reveals the need, they make no excuses to avoid giving.

Questions of should we or how much they should give are irrelevant.

What is certain,

what cannot be ignored or discounted,

is that they give.

Real givers do not give with a need to hear “thank you.”

Nor do they seek accolades for their generosity.

Our human flesh wants this, of course.

This desire for our gift-giving to be acknowledged.

To be recognized as a generous giver.

But ultimately these fleshly desires corrupt the act of giving,

the pure desire to give because God’s resources are never ours to hoard, but His to give.

We must put to death the fleshly desires for recognition.

They have no place in God’s kingdom.

The true giver simply looks for every opportunity to give.

They are always ready to meet a need.

Whether the giving is acknowledged is not important.

Giving generously is the primary concern.

Real givers do not need inspiration or a push to give.

They know, without a question, that they cannot out-give God.

And that they will not run out of resources.

2 Corinthians says, “Whoever sows generously WILL also reap generously.” (9:6b)  

This picture does not reveal our resources being depleted.

2 Corinthians says, “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food

WILL also supply and increase your store of seed

and WILL enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

You WILL be made rich in every way

so that you can be generous on every occasion.” (9:10-11)

 DO YOU BELIEVE GOD?

Real givers recognize that the Holy Spirit is their leader.

Acting upon the Spirit’s prompting.

Listening to the Spirit’s guidance.

Allowing the Spirit to lead.

The wisest givers call upon the Lord through His Spirit,

taking the time to learn how to share His resources generously.

They do this every day. 

There is no excuse to wait.

It’s a call to begin giving.

To honor God by sharing His resources.

To be available daily as His vessel.

Even without applause.

They give because God’s character trait of generosity grows within them to glorify God.

Because if they were not giving,

they would never know the joy that comes with it.

Of course, there is a great irony to all of this.

As givers unhook themselves

from the temptation to gain recognition,

they discover something.

The only reason they have anything to give is because God entrusted the resources to them!

Givers are helpless unless God supplies them in the first place.

They are liberated to give generously because they know the resources aren’t theirs.

And the Lord rewards generous giving.

Here is a paradox:

As we care less about being acknowledged for our giving,

we give more freely.

Recipients will acknowledge your gift when you’re not seeking attention.

They will aspire to give as well.

And thank God, not the giver, for the difference they make.

Some day. 

Until then, you and I are not excused from giving.

Part 3 – Where You Must Decide to Start

It’s time.

To embrace living giving boldly and know with certainty that the Lord will honor your generosity.

To seek ways to share God’s resources of money and time and abilities to minister to those around us who need us.

To examine your spending and look for ways to redirect dollars for a higher cause.

To stop worrying about whether you’re going to be short if you give.

And give as the Spirit leads you.

It’s time to begin.

This whole process of living giving is our opportunity to reflect God’s image.

Of glorifying God through His character trait of generosity.

God loves a cheerful giver.

Your part is to show up daily and give liberally.

WE HAVE ONLY ONE LIFE TO GIVE, SO GO GIVE. 

The real giver within you is waiting.

Part 4 – Taking the Next Step

This is the living giving manifesto the Lord has entrusted to me. Lord willing, there will be a book entitled, Only One Life to Give that will expound on the principles of living giving. I will share the variety of ways we can and should use God’s resources of money and time to advance His kingdom using His biblical principles.

The Spirit is stirring somewhere inside of you spurring you to give.

I believe this because you are made in the image of God, and He is a generous giver.

It’s up to you to respond.

It is my prayer that you will.

Blessings,

Lee Ann

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