Pressing Toward The Goal

Do you feel blessed today? Let us look at a brief list of God’s blessings as a reminder. First, is the gift of grace through Christ that assures us of eternal life. Second, we have family, friends, and a community of believers in this world who help us through and to grow spiritually. Third, we have been given the ability to work so that we may earn our sustenance and care for those we love.

As we grow in our Christian faith, we open ourselves to those around us and share the blessings we have received. We begin to understand the blessing of giving—and why God has allowed us to earn more than we need. We are called as stewards and given the ability to act generously on God’s behalf.

But the question remains: How do we ensure we have enough to meet our responsibilities with an uncertain future, and still move ahead toward our charitable goals?

Before you go on vacation, you choose a destination, make hotel reservations, determine how you will get there, and perhaps even schedule a few things to do while you are there. Then the day comes and off you go—following the plan.

Each journey has its own uncertainty. Will the hotel be clean and located near activities? Will transportation be reliable? Will the weather be good? For some, the unexpected is all part of the grand adventure. They relish the planning and the execution.

Making a giving plan is no different. Worthwhile ministries ask you to give and to volunteer. As with travel, make your plans and move ahead. Join that Alzheimer’s walk. Support your local food bank. Clean out the closet and donate items. Tithe to your church. Discover the joy found in giving.

As we mature in generosity it is common to take inventory and seek good counsel to help you maximize your giving. Thanks to favorable tax laws, insurance opportunities and investment tools, there may be opportunities to do more than you realize.

Do not hold back. Forget about the things that keep you from acting and reach out for what is ahead. Without a plan, your passions will likely be unfulfilled. There is great joy in knowing that you have done all you can to help others. Take the time to make the plan, and then begin your giving journey!

When we meet the Father, we can look forward to His warm embrace and, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)!