Lately I’ve been reflecting on giving and our heart motivation behind it. 

I’ve had the great opportunity to teach a money class the last couple weeks to a Young Marrieds group at church and It’s been a great experienc for me, because I’ve had to spend some time digging in to Scripture to get me prepared to talk about money and theology.

In general, most people know we should give, but what is our motivation behind our giving – in other words, why give?

Here’s a look at a few reasons to the question of:

Why Do People Give Their Money?

We’ll talke a look at a few not-so-good reasons and then a couple really good reasons.

To Earn God’s Favor

One group might settle in on this side of the room.  These folks think that by giving money to the church or giving money to a homeless person that somehow God will smile on them and be pleased. 

On the flip side, they may also think that if they don’t give, then God will be mad at them!  So, to appease a cranky and crotchety old god they need to just give!

To Get a Blessing

They give because they want to get an abundance.  This seems to be prevalent.  I recently received a direct message on Twitter from someone talking about God’s abundance being poured out on me!

I think there is some confusion in this camp and hopefully I can clear it up:

We don’t give to GET a blessing – we give to BE a blessing!

To Get Rid of Guilt

Others give because they want to rid themselves of guilt.  Maybe they feel guilty for being “blessed” while others suffer in need; or they feel guilty because they think that in order to be a “good person” they need to give.  The thought of not being a “good person” kills them.

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To Garner the Praise of Men

Some of us like to give because we want others to know and think that we are very generous!  Remember the pharisees in the New Testament that would throw their coins in to the offering to make a loud clang so everyone could hear?  That’s some of us.  We give to get noticed or to “be somebody”.

To Get a Good Feeling

There is a good feeling we all get when we give.  We feel like we were part of something bigger or that we made a difference in someone’s life when we give. 

Those are great feelings!  I love feeling that way after I give, but is it our sole motivation in giving?  Is it just to make us feel good?

To Get a Tax Deduction

As a finance guy, I love tax deductions!  Who doesn’t – am I right?  But, there are plenty of folks out there who only give because they can write it off on their taxes. 

Are you one of the one scrambling on December 31st to find a charity and donate money so you can write that off?

To Glean Meaning or Purpose from Life

Oh, meaning and purpose – everyone’s quest in life.  Some say there is none – other’s know exactly why we are here.  Those trying to find meaning and purpose, trying to be a part of something beyond themselves may give just to feel like they are accomplishing a mission.

Again, nothing wrong with finding meaning – but are we grasping at finding purpose through our giving or do we find our purpose in Christ himself?

What Should Our Motivation Be?

Notice that each of those motivations above are self-focused – We get something in return.  It really becomes all about us! 

So why should we give?

Because We Want to Help

I think many of us have a really sincere desire to help people.  That’s great!  We should desire to come alongside others, meet needs and to defend social justice because we value others and truly want to help them!

For some reason, it seems like in America we’ve lost a sense of “being a neighbor” to others.  On the block I grew up on there was always someone watching out for us, conversations between neighbors going on and a willingness to go and help each other.

I think we need (myself included) to get back to being a good neighbor.

Because Jesus Demonstrated It Best

Take a look at 2 Corinthians 8:9:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Jesus had everything in heaven – He was rich.  Yet He gave all that up to come to a lowly stable, to be the son of a poor Jewish couple – why?  So that we who embrace Him as Savior might become rich (all the glorious riches and benefits of spending eternity with God in heaven!)

He did it for you!  He gave up everything, to the point of a scandalous and shamed death on a Roman cross so we might have life!

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

Let’s reorient ourselves back to the great Gospel and realize that because Christ gave up everything for us we are freed to go and serve others for His sake!

It’s been a great week!  My first post as a writer went up on Christian PF (see link below).  I’m excited about the opportunity to write for a great site like that.

The markets have been a little crazy this week and there still a lot of talk about our national debt.  The best thing we can do is focus on changes to our own personal situation. 

Anyways, This Week in Personal Finance takes a look at interesting articles, posts and news from the past week in the personal finance arena. 

So give these articles a click!

• NPR takes a look at the decade ahead in jobs - this is an interesting graphic that shows what they project to be the best and worst employement areas.
• The question of giving and tithing is an oft-debated one in Christians circles.  Questions of how much and to whom stir up lots of answers.  Craig from Money Help for Christians looks at a healthy view of Christian giving and tithing.  This is a great, in-depth post on the subject.
• Paul from Fiscal Geek takes a look at 10 Ways to Invest $100 - he covers just about anything you can think of to get you started.
• Miranda at Personal Dividends writes about  6 Things You Should Know About the 2010 Roth Conversion.  This was a very solid post.  For more on Roth Conversions, check out my guest post over at Wise Bread.
• This post from Linsey at Wise Bread was right up my alley – saving money on office supplies! 
• Matt from Debt Free Adventure shares some pretty common ways people get into debt and how to dig out!

Don’t miss out on another post!!  Get Redeeming Riches delivered to your inbox!

R2 on the Web

I’ve recently been “hired on” as a writer over at Christian PF – one of the leading Christian personal finance blogs out there! 

This was a great honor to be asked by Bob Lotich to contribute articles on a regular basis. You can check out my first on called Blueprint to Building Your Financial House!

Also, Tipd.com is a financial news website where users vote up their favorite articles.  My article 6 Ways to Find Free Money received enough votes to be the #1 article on Tipd’s Greatest Hits!  Thank you to everyone who voted for it!

That article was also included at Fiscal Geek’s Perma Friday Round Up and Canadian Finance Blog’s Friday’s Links post.

4 Money Lessons from a Fool was included in One Money Design’s Friday Round Up.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Another week “in the books”.  I can’t believe it’s almost February already. 

This was a fun week on R2 – if you didn’t check out my mom’s guest post on marriage you should!

Anyways, This Week in Personal Finance takes a look at interesting articles, posts and news from the past week in the personal finance arena.  Give these articles a click!

Rich Christian Poor Christian gives some insights into the 7 Investments he tackles on his blog.

Craig Ford – a missionary to Papau New Guinea and writer for Money Help for Christians sits down with the poor of PNG and asks them some very direct questions about the differences and perceptions among the rich and poor.  This was an awesome post and worth checking out for some valuable insights into their responses.

Do you like getting a big tax refund?  Bible Money Matters tells us why getting a big tax refund is a horrible idea!

Interesting thoughts from Free Money Finance on how different age groups view their careers.

It’s stinkin’ cold in the Chicago area right now and it’s tempting to blast the heat, but we don’t want the big bill that comes with it – so grab your Snuggie cuz Matt Jabs at Debt Free Adventure looks at a few ways to save money on heat and electricity this winter.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Today’s the big day! We are finally closing on our new house.

We started the building process back in August of ‘09, moved into the inlaws basement and recently have been frantically trying to get a bunch of little things done so we can keep our closing date.

We locked in our rate back in November with a 45-day lock and today’s the last day!

But the house is ready, we’re ready and we’re so excited to get back to our normal routine!

Enough about us – let’s talk about some of the interesting discussions going on in the Personal Finance world this week!

This Week in Personal Finance takes a look at interesting articles, posts and news from the past week in the personal finance arena.  Give these articles a click!

• Joe Taxpayer is confused why so many Christians seem to look at all debt with such disdain and asks an interesting question, “Is Debt Anti-God?”
• Free Money Finance is a very popular and simple blog  that offers some very thought-provoking posts.  I like that.  This week he says that Those Who Give More Become Rich Faster.  I don’t think that should be our motivation to give, but he does offer a good look at the relationship between wealth and giving.
• Paul over at Fiscal Geek asks a questions we’ve all asked at some point in our lives, “Should You Save For Retirement While in Debt?”
• Kevin at Out of Your Rut asks another popular question, “Will A Million Dollars Be Enough to Retire On?”
• Free From Broke delves into the dark world of credit card reform to find some answers on how the CARD Act affects us.

R2 On The Web

My post about the 4 Questions You Should Ask Before You Buy Life Insurance was included in:

• Cavalcade of Risk from the Colorado Health Insurance Insider
• Canadian Finance Blog’s Friday Links

If you were really honest with yourself right now, wouldn’t you admit that oftentimes it’s hard to share!? 

C’mon, it’s not easy to give things to others without strings attached or to let people borrow items without being worried about getting it back in one piece or getting it back period.

You know why I know it’s hard for you to share?  Because I look at my two and a half year old daughter and see how she has such a hard time letting her little brother play with anything she has (or even touch things she’s not even playing with at the time).

It’s All Mine!

In our hearts, we all still have that two year old mentality that everything is all “MINE!”

We’re all born selfish to the core and it doesn’t go away the older we get.  We just get better at masking our selfishness!

I write these words for myself as much as anyone, because I know I am desperately selfish – but I don’t want to be. 

I want to live with open hands and loose grips on everything – I want to lay down my life for others and not care, but it’s hard.  How about you?

With the holiday season in mind, this weekend I want to share a verse from 1 Timothy 6 that talks about our readiness to share with others.  I hope it’s as challening to you as it is to me.

1 Timothy 6:17-19:

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Notice what the Apostle Paul says to Timothy about the rich – they are to do good, be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share!

But I’m not rich!

Now, whether you feel rich or not is besides the point.  If you live in America – you are rich!  Compare yourself to the rest of the world and not your neighbor and you’ll begin to understand how much you really have.

The point here is to be ready to share and be generous.  We are not naturally inclined to share with others so it takes work to get ourselves ready.

How to ready yourself to share

• Remember that God shared His Son with us and Jesus shared His life for us!
• Repent of your selfishness
• Ask God to help you overcome your selfishness
• Make giving a priority in your financial plans
• Keep giving top of mind so you’re always thinking about it
• Pray for and seek opportunities to give in the community
• Become more attuned to others needs by listening more
• Pay down your debts so you free up money to give
• Cut out some of the busyness of your life so you can give of your time
• Work hard so you can be ready to share with those in need (Eph.4:28)
• Be content with what you have!
• Remember that sharing pleases God (Heb. 13:16)
• Stop killing your generosity!

What about you?  What are some ways you’ve readied yourself to share or what other things would you add to this list?

If you haven’t yet, consider staying current with Redeeming Riches by receiving my posts FREE through email or RSS Feeds here.  Also, follow me on Twitter here.

If I knew then what I know now - surely I would’ve done things differently!

Every hear those words before?

Every say them!?

I catch myself saying them every now and then.

We all have various lessons we wished we would’ve learned at an earlier stage in life.

The great news is that it’s never too late to change.  It’s never too late in the game of personal finance to turn the ship around.

Money has a funny way of controlling us doesn’t it?

Our thoughts, our desires, our motivations – they are all impacted by our money.

Learning these lessons early on will help you stay in control of your money rather than letting it control you.

1. Spend Less Than You Make

I spent an entire post talking about this very point – so I won’t hammer it too much here.

At the core of our personal finance is this very thing – you cannot spend more than you make and expect to get ahead.

It’s so simple, so basic that it’s almost insulting to mention it – but time and again I hear from folks who just can’t seem to get this in their minds.

The earlier you “get this”, the better off you’ll be.

2. Pay Your Tithe First

The Bible talks about honoring the Lord with your firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9), which back in an agricultural society meant bringing your best produce and livestock to the Lord first.

In today’s economy, a practical application of this can be: the first check you write when you get paid is your tithe.

Giving back to Him is a natural response we have when we realize how much God gave us.

We don’t do it to earn God’s favor, but rather to show our gratitude for canceling our greatest debt.

Don’t wait til you “have money’ to give, because that day never comes.  Rather give back to the Lord first for He promises to provide for your needs.

3. Pay Yourself Second

After you give back money to the Lord, the next check you should write is to yourself.

This means you should have a set percentage or a set dollar amount that you save before you pay everything else.

Usually, if you don’t do it beforehand, what happens is that you may typically spend all of your money and by months’ end – there’s none left over to put into savings and investments.

Saving before your other bills – even if it’s only a small amount – will help establish a consistent pattern of savings and will also help you realize the importance of putting some money away.

4. Debt is Slavery – Not Leverage

This is something I wished I would’ve learned early on when I was in college.  The first day of school my freshmen year I signed up for a credit card mainly to get a free T-shirt.

Little did I know that a little plastic card would lead to thousands of dollars in credit card debt.  Unfortunately I thought that credit cards were a good source of leverage – and I paid dearly for those mistakes.

Using leverage to buy a home is something many of us have to do, but using leverage to buy everday items or depreciating assets is typically not a wise move.

The Bible illustrates a great point when it says that the “..borrower is slave of the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

5. Contentment is a Jewel

One of the biggest reasons we take on massive amounts of debt and struggle to get ahead is because we lack contentment.

Contentment is defined according to Merriam Webster as:

feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation

Whether in good times or bad, in excess or in want, when we learn how to be content with what we have, where we live and what kind of car we drive we can start making big strides with our finances.

Contentment is a rare gem in today’s society and an area I hope I can grow in as well.

These posts are designed to offer Biblical insights into money and finances straight from the Word itself.  I like to include the ESV Study Bible notes as well for further reflection.  This weekend’s passage comes from Proverbs 11:24:

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Because there is a God who blesses generosity and withholds blessing from the greedy, this paradoxical proverb makes perfect sense. 

We cannot outgive God.  When we have a loose grip on our money and give it away, God blesses by giving more to us so we can continue to give to others.  When we are selfish and hoard our money, God will oftentimes stop the flow of blessing since we are no longer using it for His glory and others needs.  How about you?  Have you found this to be true in your own life?

This Week’s Links

How Much Do You Need to Retire was picked in the Best of Money Carnival held at Mighty Bargain Hunter

Should You Give Money to a Homeless Person was discussed on the Wise Money Matters Podcast

What is the ultimate goal of getting your personal finances in order?  Is it to be debt free so that you have security and comfort in the midst of a struggling economy?  Is it to feel in control of something that perhaps was always out of control?  Is it to feel a sense of accomplishment or pride knowing you did a great job in getting your “house” in order?  Do you want to make more money so you can buy the toys you’ve always wanted?  What is it that makes you tick when it comes to improving your personal finances? 

I like to wrestle with these kinds of questions although I am not always happy with the answers that I give.  I love to hear from others too about what makes them tick and why they do the things they do when it comes to their money.  Most of the time, if I were being brutally honest with myself, I give superficial, selfish reasons for wanting to get my mortgage paid off early or make more money.  Unfortunately, at the core, I find often times the root of my desires is pride and selfishness.  Feeling good about myself or that I’ve done something on my own or have done a great job of handling my money can be a source of self exaltation for me.  How about you?

I was challenged a while back by something John Piper wrote in his book , “When I Don’t Desire God” in regards to prayer.  I came across it again recently and it got me thinking about the issues of money and personal finances and what brings ultimate joy when it comes to dollars and cents. Here is what he says:

Your prayer for your job is not merely that it be stable and peaceful and prosperous, but that it truly serves the needs of society and that in all your labor and all your relationships your joy in Christ and your love for people would make a name for Jesus.

Ok, if I am going to continue being honest then I have to confess that my prayer a lot of times ends at the part of making my job stable, peaceful and prosperous.  How about you?  Don’t leave me hanging out here by myself on this one.  Think about it.  What are your prayers like for your job?  Are they prayers for comfort, security and stability?  Do you pray for more money, less headaches and that everyone finally wakes up to see what a fantastic employee you are?  

If I could have a conversation with John Piper, I might ask, “Dr. Piper, are you saying that security and comfort and stability are bad things to desire?”  I’d guess that his answer would be “No, but if our desire for those things is greater than our desire for joy in Jesus then emphatically YES, those are bad desires.”

Reading his quote reminds me of what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:28:

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need

So here’s the rub.  The reason why we should make money, get our personal finances in order, work at becoming debt free and in general be better stewards is so that we can share with those in need and be a help and benefit to other people.  Why?  Because loving and serving others for Jesus sake is what brings ultimate and lasting joy!  

Do you see what a huge paradigm shift this is?  The real fruit of faithful finances is not that we are no longer debtors to banks and institutions, but that we are freed to give generously to those who are hurting and poor and weak.  Happiness from paying off your house or your car is fleeting.  Don’t get me wrong, it feels great, but the fact of the matter is that when you pay off that $400 monthly car payment and are wondering what to do with that money, perhaps taking a look at how you can serve others with it rather than socking it away into your retirement plan will bring more lasting joy an glory to our God and King.

What About You?

So, how about you?  Have you ever accomplished some goal or task or landed that promotion and still felt an emptiness inside?  What makes you tick when it comes to your personal finance goals?  Have you felt an exceeding joy from being generous and sharing with those in need?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

It’s happened to all of us.  We’re walking along, minding our own business or perhaps enjoying a conversation with a friend and out of the corner of our eye we catch sight of him.  There he is wearing layers of disheveled clothes, looking like he hasn’t showered in months and holding out a cup begging for change from every passerby.

“Ridiculous”, you think to yourself, “why doesn’t he just clean himself up and get a job?”   Then the “good” part of your conscience kicks in, “I should really give him something, what if he really is desperate for food?  Ah, he’ll probably just buy drugs or booze anyways.  I wouldn’t want to contribute to his problems”.  And so you walk by feeling justified in your own mind.

I know I’ve certainly been there.  So what is the right thing to do?  Should we give money to the homeless man or woman begging for help?

I think it’s a fair question because on the one hand we all have an innate sense to help others and on the other hand a lot of us have that feeling that the homeless person will not use the money to buy food, but rather on something he shouldn’t whether it be lottery tickets, drugs or alcohol.  These are legitimate concerns.

Seek First to Understand

According to a HUD Office of Policy & Development research study done in December 1999, there are various reasons contributing to homelessness and various reasons that keep a person in that lifestyle.  According to the survey, respondents were asked what the single most important thing they needed right now:

• Help finding a job was the most frequently cited need (42%)
• Help finding affordable housing (38%)
• Assistance with paying rent, mortgage, or utilities in relation to securing permanent housing (30%)
• Job training and medical care (13 % each)

The survey also asked homeless persons what their childhood was like:

Twenty-nine percent of homeless clients also report abuse or neglect in childhood from someone in their household (12 percent neglect, 22 percent physical abuse, and 13 percent sexual abuse). Thirty-three percent ran away from home and 22 percent were forced to leave home for at least 24 hours before they reached age 18. In addition, 21 percent report that their first period of homelessness predated their 18th birthday (this homelessness might have been with their family or on their own).

Does that come as any surprise?  We probably could have guessed there were various forms of abuse and neglect in their childhood.  At the very least, this data gives us a reference point.

The next time we see a homeless person and think, “Just clean yourself up” we might be able to have some compassion instead and think about the rough childhood they had or the abuse they’ve gone through and the people skills and job training they never received from parents who loved them.  Many of them have had a rough life.

Other Statistics

Food problems experienced by homeless clients included eating one meal a day or less (20 percent); being hungry in the past 30 days but not eating because they could not afford enough food (39 percent); and going a whole day without eating anything at all in the last 30 days (40 percent).

Additionally, thirty-eight percent of homeless persons reported being robbed, while another forty-one percent reported having money or other items stolen from a locker or other place of storage.  Seven percent reported being sexually assaulted or raped and another twenty-two percent were physically assaulted.

The Homeless Will Just Buy Drugs or Alcohol

This is a legitimate concern.  After all, if you are going to help you would like to know that your money is going to buy food or clothing or other items they need and not go towards fueling some addiction.

The NHSACP study reported that over the course of their lifetime, 62 percent of homeless respondents reported problems with alcohol use and 58 percent reported problems with the use of drugs.

We need to remind ourselves, however, that not every homeless person will buy drugs or alcohol.  We shouldn’t generalize and stereotype every homeless person.  To do so would be an insult to their personhood and worth much like you and I feel slighted when someone paints us with a broad brushstroke.

What Should Our Attitude Be Towards the Homeless?

I have to admit, I have a lot of growing to do in this area, but what stood out in my mind as I read this study is that in general homeless persons don’t want to be homeless, but as a result of many contributing factors they are many times unsure how or, in some cases, mentally or physically unable to break free from their lifestyle.

The other thing that impacted me in this study is the realization that many, if not all, of the homeless people we see today have had a rough life.  They haven’t had a good childhood or education.  Many of them have been abused and neglected, which means that I need to be more compassionate and understanding rather than judgmental and arrogant.

I was reminded recently from a friend that we shouldn’t be motivated by guilt to help the needy because guilt will eventually burn us out.

Instead, we should be motivated by the fact that we are the needy and the spiritually poor,  and Jesus has come and given us His life so that we can have eternal, abundant life through Him.  Because of what He’s done for us we can be a beacon of light and hope to others.

How Should We Help The Homeless?

It’s probably safe to admit that most of us have a desire to help people in need, but we’re just unsure how to go about it.  We want to do something to help them and not hurt them or add to their problems.  I don’t think we should stop giving money to the homeless, but certainly we can be a little discerning when we are giving.

I remember listening to a sermon some time ago where John Piper asked the question of whether or not God would hold you accountable because you gave the homeless man $20 and he spent it on alcohol or would He say “Thank you for having a heart and compassion for the weak and the poor”.

There are a number of things we can do to help the homeless.  If you feel uncomfortable with giving money, then why not buy them lunch or dinner.

You could always give them warmer clothes or buy them a cup of hot coffee on a cold day.

What about serving in a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter.  If you work in an area where you see the same homeless person on a regular basis, why not stop and talk to them and listen to their story?

You might find there’s an actual person under those disheveled clothes.

What About You?

I’d like to hear from you.  What do you think about giving money to the homeless?  What are other ways we can help the poor and needy?  What has been your experiences in this area?

Friday Finance Round Up is a weekly post that includes interesting articles and blog posts on money found during the week from across the web. 

This week’s articles include topics on financial checklists for parents, how to give when you don’t have extra money, letting contentment be a guiding principle for your finances, protecting your Facebook identity online and an extreme case of frugality – the guy who lives with no money. 

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Financial Checklist for New Parents – Bargaineering

As a Dad of two myself, the first few weeks of having a new child can be daunting.  This is a great list to help you remember the important financial things that should be done.

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Extreme Personal Finance: Daniel Suelo “The Man Without Money” - Get Rich Slowly

Talk about extreme!  This guy has been living without money since 2000.  Call it simplicity, genius or just plain nuts, you make the call. 

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No Extra Money to Give? Ways to Help Without Money – Out of Debt Christian

Many people say they don’t have any extra money to give away, but they don’t search out opportunities to give of their time, talent or other resources.  Alison offers up some great ideas to be generous in tough economic times. 

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Contentment: A Great Financial Principle – Personal Finance By the Book

Joe Plemon offers a great post by showing us that contentment in the Lord is a foundational principle to making wise money decisions.  Happiness is not derived from accumulating stuff, it’s found when we are content in the Lord.

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Protect Your Identity Online: Facebook a Social Hackers Dream – FiscalGeek

If you haven’t looked at your Facebook profile or settings lately, you may want to read this post and determine if you need to change some things. 

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