Have A Charitable Christmas
In just a few days, Christmas will be here. All too soon the day will be done, leaving behind piles of torn wrapping paper which once hid secret gifts; overflowing fridges stocked with left-over ham and rice and peas; brown pine leaves on brightly decorated trees; and the fading sounds of happy Christmas songs.
The 24 hours that comprises Christmas day disappears as quickly as any other normal day, and I sometimes wonder if all the hype and frantic preparation for this one day is overdone. On the dawn of December 26th, will the world be a better place for us? Will we be more financially, spiritually and emotionally fulfilled?
For many people, there is no improvement in the quality of their lives after Christmas. Real life returns, ushering in a January filled with bills that give testimony of holiday excesses. Unfortunately, all the commercialism that surrounds Christmas can sometimes make us forget the reason behind the season. The story of the baby born to make a difference to the whole world makes a nice, heart-warming tale - but can it leave a life-changing impression in our hearts?
Thankfully, many people choose to use this holiday season to give to the less fortunate, ensuring that at least one day of their lives is filled with food and fellowship. The question is - when Christmas day is done, what kind of existence do these people endure for the other 364 days? Giving during the season is wonderful, but could we achieve positive long term changes if we extended our charitable efforts throughout the entire year?
A lot of people believe that they dont have enough money to meet their needs, much less to share with others in need. We live in a culture that tells us that money is scarce and theres not enough to go around, so we hold on tightly to the little bit thats ours. The reality is that there is no shortage of money in the world. Money is just a medium of exchange whether it takes the form of paper bills, precious metals or some other type that has not been conceived yet. It is an abundant resource; its just that many of us havent figured out how to make it manifest in our lives.
Giving Back
Ironically, its when we learn to let go of our money that it becomes more abundant in our lives. There is a universal law that says the more you give, the more you will receive. However, this doesnt mean that we should give with the intention of getting something back in return, like praise or recognition. The concept of giving back is about being grateful for all the money that we have been blessed with (whether a little or a lot), knowing that we each have an obligation to share our blessings with the less fortunate. We are affirming that we know there will be enough money left to satisfy our needs. Feeling free to give back will ultimately perpetuate abundance in our lives.
I admit that it takes a big leap of faith to think of giving away money if we cant balance our personal budgets. However, many of us dont think when we choose to buy furniture on hire purchase or take out a car loan, about how much the payback amount will reduce our monthly disposable income. In the same way, a personal commitment to enrich the lives of others will not really make much a difference to the state of our finances.
One way to use your resources for the betterment of others is to automatically take out a portion of all the money that you receive, and put it aside to be given away. Tithing is a contribution of ten percent of your income, a concept that is deeply rooted in biblical times, when ten percent of the earths produce was to be consecrated to God. You can choose to donate your money to your church, favourite charity or to persons you know who are in need.
Along with your money, you can also give another precious resource- your time, to volunteer in charitable organizations. They always need extra hands to do good work. You can also choose to give back by mentoring or providing your encouragement and support to someone in need.
Have a charitable Christmas this year!
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