Mar 04 2006
Give Wisely
We all have heard those ads pleading, “For just $39.95 a month your donation could send a child to school, provide them healthcare and feed them three times a day.” Most of us are stirred when we see the empty eyes of a little child who appears to be malnourished or obviously in need of medical care.
The words used in these ads are great except for one word—could. If I am going to donate my hard-earned money then I don’t want to know what my money could do in the life of a child. This only means my money might help a child attend school, may provide healthcare and possibly will feed a child.
I want to know specifically what exactly my money will do to ease the suffering in the lives of others. Striving to live like Christ will prompt us to be generous in our giving and to help others in need. We are told in Luke 6:38:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
As with any aspect of our lives, we should pray and seek the Lord’s direction. We can be certain that if we give to others out of a sincere and generous heart, we shall be blessed. However, we should still take the time to study advertisements, including those in Christian magazines, and decipher whether the ads clearly state that your contribution will be used for a good cause or if it could be used for a good cause. Then, pray and ask for wisdom whether you should give, and if so, how much or in what way.
As a non-profit, Christian organization, we at Rivers of the World (ROW) will tell you plainly how your contributions are being used to provide medical care, education, and a host of other vitally necessary resources to people around the world. Most importantly, your donations allow us to travel to remote areas of the world and deliver the message of Jesus Christ.