A Heart of Giving

We are moving! We completed the first out of 8 steps toward having a full financial tank last week, a balanced budget, and now we are moving on to step 2, Giving 10%. 

I want to begin with a bit of disclaimer but also an invitation. This second step towards financial health is most certainly influenced by my Christian faith. I am unapologetic that my views are influenced by how I believe God instructs people to live. 

However, though giving away 10% of our income is influenced by Christianity and its traditions, it also produces what I believe is the most important mindset towards money and life: we are meant to give, not hoard. In other words, whether you are a Christian or not, giving as a practice helps you properly think about the rest of your money all month long. 

Before we give anything away, even if we have a great heart, we must complete step one and have a balanced budget. We should never give while simultaneously increasing our credit card debt. Should we work hard to quickly have a balanced budget? YES! So as soon as we have a balanced budget, it is time to begin making room in our budget to give. 

You were placed on this earth to bless those around you. Look at where we live and look at your life. If you live in America, you are blessed. Giving as a practice helps put our lives in perspective, it reminds us of our purpose, and it forces us to think outside of ourselves. People who practice giving on a regular (monthly) basis quickly become outwardly focused instead of inwardly focused. 

Imagine what it would do to your perspective if every single day you HAD to give away $100. Who would you give it to? How would you qualify a need? Your mind would be spinning on various ways to give and you’d be focused on finding a need to fill each and every day. Do you think that would change how you viewed your personal problems? 

When we make a practice of giving, we are making a practice of looking outside of ourselves and seeing/recognizing the needs of others around us. What would the world look like if everyone viewed giving as a necessity in their monthly budget? Not only would needs be met, but our selfish, self centered culture would be turned upside down on its head instantly. 

I am unapologetic that I believe the Bible teaches we should give 10%. If you are a Christian and someone who seeks to do what the Bible teaches, I believe that giving 10% of your money at the beginning of the month is a worthy and necessary target towards financial health. 

If you have a different worldview, then pick any number or percentage on a monthly basis and begin giving that away. 

This week, I want to prime the pump of giving in your life. If you’ve never given before or have been giving all of your life, I believe that this exercise will invigorate a renewed desire in your heart to give more than you ever thought was possible before. Between now and your next session, here is my giving challenge for you: 

Go to the bank and get out a crisp $100 bill. If you’re married, you each need to get out $100. If you don’t have an extra $100 right now, then take out $20 or $50, but whatever amount you take out, take out something and place that in your wallet or your purse. Before next week, it is your job and responsibility to give that money away to someone in your circle who could really use it. 

Here are a couple rules - This gift is for a person, maybe an individual or a family, not for an organization. I want you to see a face when you give this gift. I don’t want to give you a ton of ideas on who to give it to because I don’t want to influence who God puts on your heart, but oftentimes, there are people who are close to us that could really use a little encouragement and help. Don’t be so quick to look for someone on the street and neglect the people right around you in your daily life. 

Good luck this week as you begin changing your perspective on money forever. 

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Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck to paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future.