"Well, if someone gave me a lot of money, I’d have the gift of Giving."--Spiritual Gifts FAQ

Comment during a recent Your Unique Design spiritual gifts class: Well, if someone gave me a lot of money, I’d have the gift of Giving.

Response:

I’ve heard a version of this comment “give me a million dollars and we’ll see” about the gift of Giving. But I find it not a true statement from someone who HAS the gift of Giving. Those with this special spiritual ability really live on fewer resources than the rest of us NO MATTER how much they earn or possess. For example, someone I know well was able to loan family members (who had more measurable resources in nearly every way) money while he was on a single-person minimal graduate student stipend. He had no new tech gear, commuted by bicycle, did not purchase new clothing, ate simply (and cheaply), and made each financial choice with regard to spending less and giving more away. More than 45 years later, he still commutes everywhere by bicycle (even in inclement weather), would not have new clothes if they were not purchased for him by others, and is loathe to go out to eat unless the food is inexpensive and he has a discount/coupon. Giving is not only a gift, it’s become a way of life for a lifetime.

Another example also comes to mind. While my husband and I were leading a university ministry, there was a very bright engineering student who graduated and got a high-paying job in his field. Next thing we knew, he was (by choice, mind you) living out of his car and gifting the vast majority of his income to those in need. I’ve since lost track of him, but I suspect—even if he is living with an actual roof over his head—he is still a radical donor.

A young person with a lemonade stand or a paper route who donates all of their earnings to a cause near and dear to her/his heart might be exhibiting the gift of Giving. Most of us, if we’re honest, are not like that. We think that tithing ten percent or fifteen percent or twenty percent is plenty generous. We are hard-pressed to give 25% or more. We believe that we would be more charitable only if we had more money. But the truth is we are not open-handed by nature nor by gifting. We still think of our rent and our clothes and our creature comforts and our cars and fuel first and give from what’s left over.

By contrast, those with the spiritual gift of Giving give first and think of their own needs second. They might, like those I’ve known with the gift of Giving, strive to give away seventy or eighty or ninety percent of their wealth and live on very little—freeing resources (that already belong to God) that extend His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

So, I’m guessing that the ones of us who make comments like the one noted above already know that they don’t have the Spirit-empowered spiritual gift of Giving. At least not yet. It might be—even with your current income and circumstances—the Lord may choose to give you that as a new Gift—and you will be surprised at the change in your thinking, faith, and boundless generosity with all you have.

Until then, let’s learn from and model ourselves after those whose gift of Giving shows us a glimpse of Our Heavenly Father’s heart—the One Who grants lavishly.

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis. 

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