What if you gave away more outside your church walls? Would you become poorer? Or richer than ever? Practice giving outside the lines.
What Can I Give
I saw Breann (not her real name) again at Thanksgiving lunch. She somehow made it to the annual community meal in our town. Her old van barely runs.
Breann lives at a homeless shelter these days. Her possessions are few. Her friends are numbered. Her demeanor is almost hopeless. The thing she misses the most from her previous apartment? Her babies (i.e., her cats).
I felt helpless.
What did I have to give Breann that could make a significant difference in her life? Turkey and stuffing—even with a beautiful cupcake for dessert—was totally inadequate.
Give More Than Money
When we think of giving, we often think of money and offerings at church. That’s good. It’s important.
But if that’s the only way we give, it can feel empty. And impersonal. Instead of replenishing our souls, it can feel draining.
As children of God, we have more to offer than cash. And more people to give it to than fellow believers.
How can we also bless others with God’s love outside our church walls? What do we have of worth to give away?
What if, as an intentional act of spiritual discipline, we practiced giving differently? To someone different than ourselves? In different ways than our normal habits?
4 Things You Can Give Away Every Day
For our month-long series on intentional spiritual growth, let’s look at four things we can intentionally give away, with forethought, purposed in prayer, to those outside our church buildings or our homes.
1. Show up in body—Give presence
It can feel risky to show up in places outside our comfort zones. But often that’s where the needs are. Where are the poor in your community? The weak? The underserved? Are those places you can go, too?
When we put our bodies where our hearts are, God shows up there, too.
Perhaps you can show up at a feeding center. Or volunteer at a ministry’s thrift store. Partner with other groups already serving successfully.
If you look for opportunities in your city to show up in body and spirit as God in the flesh, you will find people who need you. And find God, too.
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Proverbs 11:25
2. Tell people who they are—Give dignity
Many of those with deepest hurts expect to be treated poorly. They’ve been told they’re worthless for years by parents or abusive partners.
Could you be the voice at the health clinic or community tutoring who tells them otherwise? Who reminds them that they, too, are created beautifully in the image of God? That they deserve respect just because they’re here among us?
Giving dignity is often an unexpected and valuable gift that costs us so little, but feels extravagant to those receiving it.
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”
Proverbs 3:27
3. Hand them something—Give tokens of love
Let’s be real; we probably can’t give enough money or goods to pull someone out of poverty. The issues are complex and the needs are high.
But just because we can’t give everything doesn’t mean we can’t give something.
Whatever you can give—a book donation to an impoverished school library, a pack of new socks to the man at the street corner, a blanket to a warming center on frigid nights—is an act of love. It may seem small to you, but sometimes the smallest tokens of love go the deepest.
“Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty.”
Luke 21:3-4
4. Pray a blessing—Give Jesus
When appropriate, offer to pray a blessing over others. It is often a welcomed gift. Your prayer doesn’t have to be long and wordy (it’s best if it’s not!). It doesn’t have to promise a miraculous healing or guarantee affordable housing.
But a simple prayer asking Jesus to bring love and peace into the life of another can turn around someone’s day.
It lets them know not only that you care, but that even after you’re gone, God cares. He remains with them.
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
1 Chronicles 29:14
God Grows Your Gift
As Breann finished eating her Thanksgiving lunch, we chatted some more. She asked about my family. I showed her pictures of my new granddaughter.
I asked what was next for her. She was hoping to volunteer next week at the animal shelter, if her van could get her there and back. She was hoping to find a way to move out of the homeless shelter and back into an apartment soon.
We hugged goodbye. And I walked away. To my reliable SUV, my faithful spouse, my comfortable middle-class life.
I still felt helpless.
But I no longer felt hopeless.
I hadn’t given Breann anything I would consider useful. But I received a gift from her. And I hope she received the same from me. We both shared space together in the time we were given. We shared a meal, our attention, and our Jesus.
God can take the tiniest of gifts and expand them into Kingdom blessings. Just like He multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed 5,000, He can enlarge our small offerings as well.
I don’t know why God keeps winding my path with Breann’s. But I know it’s for my good.
I pray it’s for Breann’s good, too.
Not Perfect, But Possible
Giving to those unlike ourselves, those we don’t already know and love, can feel risky. But maybe that’s why it grows our dependence on God.
We won’t do it perfectly. We may make a mess at times. We may give half-heartedly, with fear, and even impure motives at times.
But let’s do it anyway. Give what we have. However we can.
Don’t make it complicated. But make it intentional.
Make it a practice to give:
- Presence
- Dignity
- Tokens
- Jesus
These are life-giving to others and life-giving to ourselves.
Giving these away won’t make us poorer. They make us—and the world around us—richer than ever.
“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Acts 20:35
Is it easy or hard for you to give to people outside your circle? What have you given, or received, lately that showed God’s love? Please share in the comments.
…things worth giving.
And the list could go on and on… I think of your photos, Tom. Such beautiful gifts to give the world OF the world itself.
When looked at from the perspective you’ve shared here, Lisa, giving of ourselves to others is not as complicated or as daunting as we might think. I certainly plan on taking your advice going forward.
Blessings!
We often complicate things a bit much, yes? :) I know I do. So when I break things apart, it makes them seem more doable. Glad this made sense to you, too, Martha. I’m sure you bless many with your gifts!
Time is often something people don’t realize is as valuable as it is as people live such busy lives. Even people who don’t have lots of material or financial blessings often can carve out time to spend giving back in so many ways that bless others. Often they find friendships and connections and just fun in the work being done. However, it is work that needs doing and not everyone takes the time to do it.
I agree that giving away our time is one of the most precious gifts we can give. There are seasons where we have more to give and seasons where we have less. But we always have some time to spare for others. How we choose to spend it can make all the difference.
These are so much better sometimes…meaning more than just cash. I love to give but struggle with ways to do just that. Thanks for choices.
Sometimes it is easier for me to just write a check (well, kids these days may not understand what “checks” are, ha) or rather, just donate online. :) Giving in person, giving non-cash gifts, can be more difficult for me, too, Linda. But the rewards are often incomparable. The risks and efforts are usually worth it!
Thank you for this good lesson on generosity, Lisa. When we are generous with our time, attention, love and compassion, we receive so much more than we give. It’s not like life is a pie – giving some away doesn’t mean less for me. God multiplies our small gifts when we are intentional with our giving. What a beautiful post!
Exactly, Laurie–“it’s not like life is a pie.” That’s what I have to remind myself of so that I won’t be stingy. The more we give, the more God gives too. Maybe not in the same ways, but in ways that matter the most. It’s a lesson I keep having to learn again and again.
I am a card sending, book giving encourager.
That’s a beautiful way to give, Susan. I have slacked off in recent years from sending cards like I once did. But I still love to receive cards as much as ever (maybe more?) so I should resume that gift-giving myself. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful list! I volunteer at a local food bank and see the need to give more than ever. There are so many suffering. It seems the divide between the “haves and “have nots” is growing greatly.
I hear you, Pat. I volunteer at our local food bank as well, and it opened my eyes more than anything ever has. The needs are so great and the lives are so precious. :( God bless you in your ministry!
Hi, Lisa. I love the heart behind each of these practical, kind ways to extend love and care. Thank you for suggesting them! Many blessings, Tammy
Thanks, Tammy. I know there are many more suggestions we could add to this list. I love how the body of Christ is diverse in its giftings. God obviously knows what he’s doing when he divvies out ways to bless people.
Lisa, thank you for sharing this wonderful post. I definitely needed the reminder of blessings we can share outside of the church.
Thanks, Angela. I realize there are different seasons for different opportunities, but it’s such a blessing when we can be more available for ministries outside the church. It brings us such unique blessings as well. God’s kingdom is a very big place.
Wonderful post, Lisa. This is the right way to start and live every year. Being the heart and hands of our Father brings true riches to us, what the NT translates peace as “prosperity”.
I’ve been wrapped up in my own world with business issues and this put things back in perspective. Thanks.
Thanks for broadening this to include peace as “prosperity.” Makes me think of shalom – “All is well.” When we are giving out as God puts into us, we are at peace. Appreciate your wisdom, Floyd.
I love the four things we can give away:
Presence
Dignity
Tokens of Love
Jesus
Maree
And those are all things that God gives to us first. In unlimited supply! Live a blessed week, Maree.
Wonderful insights into the whys of giving outside the church in the manner you suggested which spurs us on to be the hands and feet of Christ to the world.
Thanks for sharing.
Sometimes it feels more natural to give inside the church (which is also important!), but not to the exclusion of outside the church. We’re called to spread Christ’s love everywhere we go. Thanks for the encouraging words, Karen!