Why Giving Matters More Than Ever — And How It Changes Everything

Why it’s time to become more generous and charitable. The benefits of giving to the less fortunate.

I remember the first time I truly saw it. It wasn’t on a news broadcast or in a fundraising letter. It was in a grocery store parking lot on a bitingly cold afternoon. A woman, maybe my mother’s age, was sitting in her car, the driver’s side door open. Her shoulders were slumped, and she had her face in her hands. It was a picture of a quiet, private exhaustion I recognized deep in my own soul—the kind that comes not from a bad day, but from a relentless season.

Next to her, a teenager was carefully loading their groceries—a few bags, not many—into the trunk. Their postures told a story of shared burden and unspoken love.

In that moment, I didn’t see a “poor person” or a statistic. I saw a human being, carrying a weight I couldn’t see. I saw dignity in the midst of struggle. I saw resilience in the simple act of getting groceries on a hard day. And I felt a nudge, a quiet whisper in my spirit: “See them. And do something.”

Maybe you’ve felt that nudge, too. In the face of so much need in our world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, to wonder if our small part could ever make a difference. If that’s you, friend, please know you are seen. Your compassionate heart is a gift, and your hesitation is understandable. But what if I told you that the call to generosity isn’t just about helping others—it’s about a profound transformation God wants to work in our own hearts?

The Promise We Hold: A Biblical Mandate to Give

From the very beginning, God’s heart for those in need is unmistakably clear. His desire for justice and compassion isn’t a sidebar to the gospel; it’s woven into its very fabric.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” - Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)

This verse from the Old Testament turns the entire idea of charity on its head. It’s not about us, the “haves,” condescending to help the “have-nots.” It’s an incredible invitation into partnership with God Himself. When we extend a hand to someone in need, we are quite literally making a loan to the Creator of the universe. We are trusting Him with our resources, and He promises to honor that trust. In practical terms, this means seeing every act of kindness—a meal shared, a bill paid, a bag of groceries given—not as an expense, but as a sacred investment.

The Example We Follow: How Jesus Framed Generosity

Jesus’s life was a living sermon on generosity. He gave his time, his attention, his healing, and ultimately, his life. He noticed the people everyone else overlooked, and he calls us to do the same.

“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 (NIV)

This isn’t a “prosperity gospel” promise that you’ll get a check in the mail for every dollar you donate. It’s so much richer than that. The “good measure” poured into your lap is often spiritual: a profound sense of purpose, a deeper joy that isn’t tied to circumstances, a breaking of the chains of materialism that bind our own hearts. The more we give—of our resources, our time, our compassion—the more God fills us back up with the things that truly matter: joy, peace, and a tangible sense of His presence. Giving, quite simply, makes us more like Jesus.

The Community We Build: Your Invitation to a Shared Mission

Seeing the need in the world can be heartbreaking. But I have also seen the incredible resilience of the human spirit. I’ve seen the radiant hope in a mother’s eyes when a burden is lifted, not because she was “saved,” but because she was seen and supported by her community. This is what we are called to be: a community of hope-bringers.

This work of compassionate advocacy—of telling these stories of dignity and strength, of connecting resources with need—is the mission God has placed on my heart. And it’s not a solo mission. It’s one we are meant to do together.

If this post has resonated with you, if you feel that gentle nudge to step into a more generous life, I want to warmly invite you to join me in this work. You are a vital part of this story.

Here are a few specific, no-pressure ways you can help extend this circle of compassion:

1. Pray: Pray for wisdom and compassion for me as I write and advocate. Pray for the families we seek to serve, that they would feel God’s provision and immense love for them.

2. Share: Share this post or others that move you. Sometimes, the right words find the right person at the right time because someone like you was willing to pass them along.

3. Encourage: Leave a comment or send a note. Knowing these words land on caring hearts is fuel for this work.

4. Give: If you feel led to support this writing advocacy work financially, your gift helps me dedicate more time to creating resources that inspire generosity and support practical help for those in need. It allows these stories to be told with dignity and truth.

Whatever you choose, know that you are welcome here. This is about all of us, together, opening our hands and our hearts to a world in need, and discovering the incredible joy God has promised us in return.

With gratitude and hope,