Generosity Attracts Giving

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. (Luke 6:38)

It is hard to comprehend and to some this is not acceptable but I believe that giving attracts generosity. This is not to run in contrary to another virtue that says, “Give and expect nothing in return” because the gifts would still come anyway even if with all candor and purity you are not expecting something in return.

You see, this is law of attraction at work, especially in gifts and giving.

First and foremost, the prevailing spirit here is generosity and not greed.

Generosity is the honest expression of giving favors in the form of talents, availability and financial help to others without looking forward to anything in return.

It is giving at its best because it is spontaneous and not coerced. It is freely and heartily given.

In this period of global financial crisis the most common phrase that we hear from many people, leaders of corporations, religious and humanitarian organizations, is “We don’t have money”.

May I ask, is the phrase “we don’t have money” borne out of honest evaluation of the real financial status? Or is it being used as a safety measure, a phrase that will dissuade spending despite the availability of money?

If this is the case, is this not dishonesty? And when you are not honest with your real financial situation how can you expect generosity to thrive in your areas of influence?

Where generosity is stunted, gifts are scarce, and it is likely that greed will breed and soon take over. It is my prayer that the current “no money”, “no budget” mantra that has been popular at the biggest university in Iloilo City would not attract poverty and greed.

Sowing the seeds of generosity begins with your genuine concern for your fellow person. When you do something to realize your concern through giving, then this act and substance of your giving becomes the gift to the person of your concern. Your deed of kindness, which has become a habit will attract gifts to come your way.

There are quality academic institutions that have cultivated excellently the culture of generosity. They nurture generosity among their students by giving scholarships, grant-in-aids, and support for extra-curricular activities.

Believing in the principle that giving attracts gifts, there are school leaders who commit sincerely to offer the best facilities, equipment, and services for their students. Beyond graduation, there are Iloilo City universities that continue to really be their students’ Alma Mater (nurturing mother) because they have built that true “mother-son” caring relationship.

Would you believe that there are churches and non-profit institutions who take pride in harboring large sum of money in the bank? They would declare that they are progressing because their “savings” have grown through the years.

Are churches and non-profit institutions not supposed to spend all their so-called “riches” for the poor and needy as Jesus Christ has commanded?

Quite contrary, the most progressive and fast growing churches and non-profit institutions are those that are sincerely all out in harnessing and using their resources to do for their worthy vision and mission.

Their members and alumni are giving cheerfully because they can see life and vitality in their total institutional existence. They won’t hesitate to give sacrificial to support a very worthwhile ministry projects for they see that their donations are used extensively and the results are tremendous.

Well, it is not yet too late to start giving generously. And when you see how your act of benevolence had lifted somebody’s spirit, giving a brighter day to him or her, you have just attracted the priceless gift of love.

The Work Student Study Program of Central Philippine University is one great bastion of generosity that must be protected . Know why by watching this short video documentary on God’s GRACE…