5 Strategies for Charitable Giving

1. Developing a Charitable Mindset

As Christians, we have been told to be charitable. In reality, we are called to have a mindset of stewardship. Stewardship is understanding we are but clay pots, and our resources are not our own; they are blessings from the Lord. God desires us to steward our resources to help others and further His Kingdom. Therefore, we need to continually be praying that God's will be our will. To have the appropriate Kingdom impact, we must be aligned with God's plan, as the Bible describes.

Stewardship is defined in Webster's Dictionary as the conducting, supervising, or managing of something. Most people jump immediately to money when we are referring to charitable giving. However, it is more than that. Stewarding your resources encompasses every aspect of your life. Some examples are giving your time and using your unique abilities in your community. Time is a precious commodity we can't get more of, so donating your time is a great way to be charitable.

You were given special gifts and talents and have spent time cultivating these gifts. Whether work-related, cooking, sewing, organizing, building, sports, etc. Your gifts are a blessing to churches, charities, non-profits, and neighbors. Share them generously.

We run the risk of getting fixated on giving a specific percentage of your income each year, and then once you have met that goal, your duties are done. You can check the box. Instead, what if we changed our mindset to one of constant stewardship? You may be surprised at the many blessings you can pour out on others. Ten percent might be a good guide for people, but as we discussed, it's more than just your monthly check. It's a constant openness to opportunities to help others in any way you can.

2. Why Should Christians Give?

Christians give out of the love in their hearts to honor the Lord and further His kingdom. As our faith grows deeper and we grow closer to Christ, our desire to love our neighbor follows. When we seek His will, Word, and heart, He will turn our hearts to focus on others. In so doing, we become an instrument for blessing those around us.

Christians are called to radical generosity, and it takes many forms. Our resources are a blessing from God and can be used however needed.

Scripture gives us guides to help understand giving. In Luke 21:1-4, the widow puts in two small copper coins, and Jesus tells us, "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, put in all she had to live on."

In contrast, in Acts 5, Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. They kept back a portion of the proceeds (which was fine because it was their land) yet lied about it. Both fall dead after withholding the truth from the disciples.

Those are extreme examples, yet they show us we must seek a pure heart when it comes to giving. Our selfish nature will tend towards Ananias and Sapphira because we are sinners. However, we must fight against that temptation and give beyond what we are comfortable doing.

Radical generosity is not always about giving money. It's appropriate to give money to the church; that's the only way the church functions. Be generous with your time and talents. Stewardship is about using the resources God gave us for His use.

Everything comes from Him. Your job, your money, your family, your children, and your talents. He has providentially blessed you with all of it. The way we show gratitude is through the sharing of our gifts.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/coffeekai

3. Is it Better to Donate to a Few Charities or Many?

There are many wonderful charities out there, and new ones are always popping up. It's hard to pick, and most of us don't have the funds to contribute to all of them. Plus, if you spread your funds out too thinly, you wouldn't have a big impact on any of them. We are recommending focusing your giving in three places. Keep in mind, donating refers to money, but also our time and talents.

As Christians, our church is the first and probably most important place to support. The church survives on contributions made by its members and sometimes non-members. Our pastors receive their salaries from our giving. They need our generous, consistent support. Your contributions help fund salaries, building expenses, mission trips, materials for learning such as Sunday school, and more.

Volunteering your time helps make the church run smoothly. I know our church has endless ways to get involved, from teaching Sunday school to preparing communion, picking up members who can't drive, handing out bulletins, etc.

The second place to give is to charities you are involved in or have a connection to. These organizations are aligned with your values. They are a passion point for your family. All of us have passions or challenges we face in life. God can work through us using prior pain and unique situations to help others.

For our family, my mom died when I was twenty. As young adults, my husband and I got involved in an organization called Comfort Zone Camp, which is a bereavement camp for kids. We donated our time and money to attend camp and got paired with a little buddy who had lost a parent or caregiver. I used my pain in a way that supported these kids.

Maybe your family deals with a medical problem, you have a passion for healthy living, or you are enthusiastic about education. Support organizations that align with your passions.

Lastly, if you are a parent, you should support your kids' schools. They always need volunteers and are usually trying to raise money for various efforts. Be an involved parent, however that looks. Stay engaged and be informed on what is going on so you may have a positive impact.

4. How Can We Model and Teach Our Kids to Be Good Stewards?

Teaching our kids to be good stewards starts by adopting the right mindset. Modeling stewardship for your kids is a big part of showing how you live it out. Let them see you be charitable. Share with your kids about the charities you support and why. Bring them to events as they get older. Show them how stewardship is woven into your life.

Discuss with your children how God has given them gifts. We develop these gifts and use them to benefit others. As 1 Peter 4:10 states, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

It's been delightful for me to watch our kids volunteer in the nursery now that they are older. They are on a regular monthly shift and love to help. They have an opportunity to interact with other adults they may not know otherwise. They are forming bonds and friendships with the little ones. As the toddlers grow up, they look up to the big kids in their church. Beautiful, multigenerational relationships are formed in God's house.

We make meals for people often. Whether for a new baby born in our church or neighbors who are sick. I get them involved and have them bake a dessert and come with me to deliver the meal. I am showing our kids that it is important to take care of our church family and those in need around us.

Hopefully, over years of exposure, prayer, and giving them opportunities to serve, the Lord will open their hearts to helping others. Some kids do it more naturally than others, but all can be taught the importance of being focused on others.

5. Leaving a Legacy

It is imperative that parents leave a legacy for their kids and grandkids. Being charitable and exercising proper stewardship lends itself to a multigenerational mindset. Because we live during the in-between of Christ's sacrifice and, ultimately, His return, we need to remember the long view. When it comes to charity and stewardship, it is prudent to think multigenerational, the eternal view.

How does this play out? It looks like investing and stewarding things of value: relationships, church, children, education, real estate, etc. It means one generation sacrificing for the next generation to give them opportunities. Learn how to make values-based decisions. Create a family mission and vision statement and definition of success. Make sure your biblical worldview is encapsulated in these, and teach them to your children and grandchildren. Be deliberate in all your decisions.

The real legacy and ripple effect you have is stewarding the next generation of your family. Will they believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? Teach them. Will they love His Church? Teach them. Will they get married and have a family?

The duty lies with Dad and Mom, Granddad, and Grandma. Our next generation is only as good as the investment and stewarding they receive from the prior generation. God has given us the family unit. It is our duty to grow and develop that family in His ways. Those ways result in legacy, love, laughter, and living. Don't forsake what we know to be good and true and wise. Teach them.

Leaving a legacy can take many forms. The things that last are the things of the Lord. Invest in the values, priorities, and principles you have based on your biblical worldview and what the Lord tells us is true. Put the proper legal and financial protections around those things to be effective in the here and now with an eye to the long view of growing, protecting, and stewarding many generations of your family. You'll be honoring the Lord, investing in things that matter, and leaving a legacy worth following.

The reality is that being charitable is much more than giving. Being charitable is about stewardship. We steward many things: money, property, time, ourselves, our talents, our families, our businesses, etc.

Christians must know we don't do so out of abundance or scarcity; we do it because our risen Lord, Christ, has instructed us to love our neighbor. In so doing, we follow His will to tell the truth of the gospel and steward the resources He's given us for His kingdom on earth. We cannot wait to do it when we have more or feel the time is right. Stewarding our resources is a constant, a daily mantra and way of life to love others and provide support for the people and institutions around us.

Stewardship is not something you do but rather something you are.