Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
I find it interesting that it is actually more blessed to give than to receive. It seems that the world would have us believe just the opposite, as so many things are about self gratification, trying to place the most importance on getting and receiving.
God gives, we receive. If it stops there the gift cannot grow or blossom into something greater than ourselves. Do you know why the dead sea is dead? Because all it does is receive water without allowing any water to flow back out of it. The same can be said about ourselves.
So what happens when what we receive flows through us? The process goes: God gives, we receive, we give and another receives. If the one who receives from us then also gives, there is a ripple effect that can have a positive influence over and over. This is the start of a legacy. Giving multiplies as it flows through us. When we stop giving and are only receiving, it stops the process of influence.
What kind of generational legacy of giving would you like to create in your family? Do you want your kids and grandkids to have an attitude that is “all about me” or “all about others” and how others can be served for God’s glory. Which kind of person would you rather be around, a selfish one or one that has love and respect for others?
What kind of eternal impact would you like to see created with the assets God has entrusted to you during your lifetime and beyond? How could you use the assets God has given you to make a positive impact over the next 5, 10, 20 or 40 years?
How do you “Build a Legacy” that full of purpose and meaning? It all starts with you, giving your time and resources. Taking the assets God has given you, you can choose to use them to start a non profit foundation, making your family board members with the authority to decide how the money is going to be given away. You can take an inventory of all your assets, not just the cash. What can be sold to fund a missionary, drill a water well in a 3rd world country, heal the sick, or feed the hungry?
Matthew 25:30-40 sums it all up. Look it up and meditate on it.
Do you need help figuring out where and how you can start leaving that legacy? There are many planning tools we can use together like a Charitable remainder trust, Donor advised funds, Charitable lead trust, Charitable gift annuities, Estate planning techniques, etc. I would love to help you better understand if they could apply to your specific situation.
Get in touch with me at CFAA.co for more information on how you can start a legacy worth leaving.