Article October 6, 1980 Issue

More meaningful contributions

JENIFER C. WECHSLER

How should we decide our financial support of worthy causes? Ideally, giving should be motivated by our understanding of God's abundant goodness and a real love for what the recipient represents, whether our gift is to an individual, a church, a humanitarian or political organization.

One method for determining the amount to contribute is to give what can be spared. Another is to set a designated amount and give regularly. But James's letter in the Bible advises, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."^{James 1:17;}

Seen in this perspective, our giving will be governed by our comprehension of God's infinite nature. This is not to say that we should be thoughtless of our own or family needs, or of established obligations. But when we see a need, we can expand our reliance on God's care so we can meet it.

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