More Than Money, But....
I received a half-dozen e-mails after yesterday's post. The post's key takeaway was that everyone can give financially, regardless of financial status. Everyone has something to give. It’s a concept that’s become near and dear to me as I've worked with hundreds of people on the intersection of meaning and money.
The general sentiment of yesterday's e-mails was the following: There are more ways to give than just money. Money is one way to give, but we don't have to give money to give. Giving comes in many different forms: time, talent, expertise, etc.
Yesterday's post focused specifically on giving money for one primary reason: Many of us struggle (mentally and/or emotionally) to give away money. For many, giving time and talents is easy, but giving money is a constant sticking point. I would argue that giving money is critical to having a healthy relationship with money. It's so easy to tell ourselves, "Yeah, sure, I'll give.....just not money," or as I often hear from some of my fellow Christians, "I tithe with my time." That's when we know we have an emotional or mental block with money.
That being said, the readers are right. Giving money is only part of the story. After the mini deluge of e-mails I received about this topic, I decided to put my new AI-powered database to the test. I asked it to give me a report on all the times I've talked about the importance of giving non-financially. The verdict: 28 blog posts and 4 podcast episodes, all revolving around the idea that generosity extends beyond simply giving away money. You can read the full report HERE. I gotta tell you, this AI database is pretty fun. Share any fun ideas or questions you want me to push through it. I'd be happy to share the outputs with you.
Yes, we need to remember that giving is about more than simply donating money. There are countless ways we can/should give, each powerful and impactful in its own right. However, we can't let those other methods excuse us and preclude us from giving financially. Giving away a portion of our financial resources is an integral part of creating and maintaining a healthy relationship with money.
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