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closeMatters of faith: Donating is a great way to give back to those around you
Kim Latterell / guest columnist
Soon you’ll have received your government subsidy to help you stimulate the economy. My guess is you already have a set of bills to pay in mind or your eye set on that something special you’ve been longing for. Extra cash doesn’t stay “extra” for long. But I have a couple of quick suggestions for you before this costly freebie burns a hole in your pocket.
Since this money is being borrowed from our kids, grandkids and maybe even great-grandkids, why not start a savings account for them so as they go off to school or work, you’ve given them a nest-egg to get started? Let the compound interest we’ll be paying for generations at least begin to pay them back. Since this money is an unearned gift, you might choose to gift others whose need is greater than your own.
At the very least I encourage you to tithe it. That means you give away at least 10 percent as a small way of showing you have a desire not only to stimulate the economy but to stimulate your heart in compassion and care for others. Give that tithe to your favorite cause, favorite charity, favorite church, temple or synagogue. It’s your choice but at least choose to do something for the common good, for real needs and not just fleeting wants.
The church I serve of 250 families likely has received a government handout of nearly $250,000. A tithe of that amount gives us opportunity to increase our care of the community by almost $25,000. Imagine the good this small portion, multiplied your gifts throughout all of Pierce County, could do.
Money is a two-sided coin. One side always works to turn us in on ourselves first. But the other side, the side that sees both gift and need, works to turn us toward others. In this ‘flip of the coin’ will you call it “heads” with a godly concern for neighbors, or “tails” where money once again simply wags you? Will you feed the need or just feed the greed?