Nelly Favis-Villafuerte
To readers of this column who believe that the measure of life is not its duration but its donation – let me appeal for your compassion to share your blessings with our brothers and sisters – who are victims of the Taal volcanic eruptions. Latest record show that there are: 12,000 affected families; 53,000 affected persons; 43,000 displaced persons and 216 evacuation center.
Giving is a social obligation. But more than that. Giving is a spiritual obligation. It is not something that we should do once in a while. It is something that we do all the time as part of our existence - economic and otherwise.
One Christian writer said that giving is the only proof that the cancer of greed has not consumed our souls. This same Christian writer (John Hagee) also said that giving is the secret to financial and spiritual wealth. In the Book of Luke in the New Testament, we find the following: “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38.)
Prosperity has always been linked to giving. Also, what we give to God and other people are all God’s money, resources, and possessions. God owns and controls all the wealth in the world. This being so, we are only stewards of God’s wealth. And as God’s stewards, we will give an accounting to God of how we managed His resources. The implication too of the reality that God owns and controls all the wealth in the world – is that every spending decision is a spiritual decision.
There are a number of successful businessmen who attributed their success in business to their tithing generously to the Lord. Let me cite some:
• J.K. Kraft, head of Kraft Cheese, who for many years gave twenty-five (25%) percent of his income to Christian causes said: “The only investments I ever made which have paid constantly increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.”
• John D. Rockefeller, Sr.: “I have tithed every dollar God has entrusted to me. And I want to say, I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week."
• Henry Crowell, founder of the Quaker Oats Company and giving sixty (60%) per cent of his income to God, said: “I’ve never gotten ahead of God. He has always been ahead of me in giving.”
• William Colgate, founder of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, started tithing to the Lord 10 percent of his meager earnings. He gradually increased his tithing to 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent – and late in his life gave 100 percent of his earnings to our Lord God!
Many of us believe that giving makes living worthwhile. Especially if we have done something for someone who will never be able to repay us. In the words of the Holy Bible, we find our Lord God saying: “What you did for the least of your brothers, you did for Me.”
Have a joyful day!
(For comments/reactions please send to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected])