Hello there. Today’s post may seem a bit controversial so I’ll really love to hear your feedback.
We live in a world today where a lot is said about giving. I mean I grew up in the church and we are always saying to give, give, give. If you give you will be blessed. Give and you shall receive!!! I am sure you have heard this lots of times. But my question to ask you is this.….Is giving everything?
There is a saying that says you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving!!! What that says is that it is possible for you to give someone something and not really like them e.g. “your idiotic boss” etc. Put in your person in place of “Boss” there. You see it is possible for someone to give and not necessarily be a generous person.
In my opinion it’s not about how much you give that matters but how you live that matters!!! People will remember you more by the way you live than in how much you give!!!
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Let me give you an example. Let’s say you are working in a Company. You give your life out to that company!!! You’re always working hard and making sure that everyone follows the rules etc. However, when you are out of the company you are known as a drunkard…You are always in the bar and clubs getting high and “hitting” on young school girls. What does that say about you? It is true that you are a very good worker in your company and you may even get promoted for your work ethic, however what about when you are not in work?
You can bet your bottom dollar that people will talk more about the fact of how you live after work than when you are in work! I’ve seen lots of people in Society who give a lot and that is commendable but the way in which they live makes their giving go in vain. If you have a child and you give them everything they need to have a happy life but the way you live as a father or mother will determine the type of respect you get from your children.
My point I am trying to make is this. Giving is a good thing and I highly encourage it, but more important than giving, is living. I’ll repeat that — “More important than giving, is your living”. Because people will not remember you so much for what you give but in how you lived!!!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
BRIAN,
Greetings from rural Australia.
This is a very insightful post.
Your comparison between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is astute. Especially if a reader recognises themselves in that description and it motivates them to make some changes to the way they live.
I wonder how many people fully realise that it’s how we live our daily life that makes the biggest impact on those around us? Many thanks for pointing this out.
Take care,
CAROL
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
Post Office Box 139
KANDOS NSW 2848 Australia
Tel: +612 63 58 85 11
Fax: +612 63 58 85 10
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Thanks for the nice words, Carol. I appreciate that you understand what I meant!!!
Interesting post, but I think your examples are a little black and white, although I agree with the gist of what you’re saying.
What I have found in the social media / blogging world is that giving really does come back, sometimes manyfold.
Hi Mike. Thanks for your comment. I agree that your giving will come back in the blogging world. What I really meant is that if you give lots of money to charity etc that does not necessarily mean you are a generous person. You can be giving for your own recognition etc. The way you live is more important than anything you may give e.g. money. If I am a person who doesn’t have integrity, loyalty etc. but I do good just so I can manipulate people, sooner or later I will be found out to be a fake!!!
Hi Brian,
Giving doesnt mean just giving stuff to others. It doesnt have to be materialistic stuff.
It would mean helping others unselfishly. A poor woman/man is hungry, you can share your meal. Or help in any other means like doing service in helping out in the local charity as a volunteer. What you will get back is immense satisfaction in the thought that you were able to help.
Hey Vijay, I agree totally with what you said. Let’s not forget though that some may give with the wrong motive e.g. a doctor sees a poor man hungry and he doesn’t want to give the man anything but then he sees one of his patients watching and he decides to give the man money so he won’t look bad in his patient’s sight….That’s what I meant by giving vs living….The way I live will influence the way I give!
Hi Brian,
What really stands out about this post to me is that sometimes I can get a little overwhelmed with giving….and it’s important to remember that the way we live our lives can have a HUGE impact as well!
A smile, opening the door for someone, letting someone in front of you in traffic, etc.
You never know how a simple kind gesture can affect another person!
Thanks-
Kim