The Heart of Giving: From Chintzy to Extravagant and Everything In Between

What kind of giver are you?

Chintzy givers always ask, “How little can I get away with?” They fulfill their obligations without love or thought, merely checking off a box on a social contract.

On the other end of the spectrum are the extravagant givers. I once conducted a funeral for a family whose pre-teen daughter had tragically drowned in a pool at a care facility. One day, the grieving father came to me with $40,000, a portion of their legal settlement, as a token of gratitude. Though I turned down the money, believing it improper to accept, his gesture spoke volumes about his desire to show appreciation.

Some givers’ generosity comes with strings attached, leaving you to wonder about their true intentions.

Rachel Uretsky-Pratt, a dedicated teacher, received a gift she would never forget. As Christmas approached, her students and their families, despite tight budgets and free or reduced lunch programs, brought her gifts. Amidst the usual chocolates and costume jewelry, one gift stood out: a small bag of marshmallows from a box of Lucky Charms.

This gift came from a child whose family struggled to make ends meet. The little girl adored the marshmallows, often saving them from her cereal. She painstakingly spooned out the marshmallows each morning, collecting them in a bag to present to her teacher. It was a gift given out of sacrifice, not abundance.

Too often, we measure the value of a gift by its price tag. Perhaps we should consider the sacrifice behind it.

In the Bible, Jesus observed people making their offerings at the temple. The wealthy contributed gold, producing a distinctive sound as it dropped into the trumpet-shaped urn. Then came the dull “tink” of copper coins, indicating a small, insignificant donation. Jesus turned his attention to a poor widow who had given two copper coins, worth less than a penny.

While society names buildings after wealthy benefactors, Jesus elevated the widow’s humble offering to heavenly recognition.

“All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:4, NIV).

Another translation highlights that she “gave out of her living.”

In a society that discards as much food as it consumes and debates which luxury SUV to purchase, we should pause to reflect. What is the sound of your giving? It’s not about the amount of money but the motivation behind it.

Authentic givers offer time, attention, and care. Their lives, rich with generosity, exceed their stained budgets.

When Jesus watches you, what kind of giver does he see?