Most people in the United States have a Will or Trust directing where assets will be placed after death. The Bible is clear on the concept of tithing, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 30:10 ESV)

Most of us have a tendency to hang onto most of our assets until pasted on at death. Charles Feeney recently provided an outstanding example, he give away  $ 8 billion  over the last several decades. His goal was to give away all of his funds prior to his death.  A key advantage of giving money away while still alive affords the opportunity to be focused and ensure the funds went to the correct causes and organizations with effective management, producing consistent results.

John Wesley taught many years ago three key principles regarding financing giving:

We all have employees who come to us and share personal problems and information. My experience has taught me not to become overly involved in an employee’s personal challenges. I listen and endeavor to triage the situation when somebody is venting legitimately. For example, if a spouse has a cancer diagnosis, I allow them an opportunity to express their pain and suffering. We need to be good listeners.

When customers buy, usually they are interested in convenience, value, and service. However, an increasing number of customers are also buying based on a cause.

Many advertisements market a cause. For example, a sock manufacturer touts that they gave away 60 million pairs of socks to homeless shelters, one pair for each pair sold. Their tagline boasts of “the greatest sock never sold.”

When I was shopping for socks a while ago, I went to their website.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find what I needed.  However, their advertisement was successful in getting me to visit their site.

Earning a college degree usually provides an advantage in future earning power. However, without pursuing wise financial counsel, it can also create debt that becomes an albatross around a student’s neck. Currently, the average student graduates with $35,000 in student loan debt. This debt cannot be discharged through bankruptcy.  Effective planning provides excellent options for students and parents to avoid the consequences of student debt. 

Here are some ideas to help you:

1. Make a debt-free plan.

We have heard the rhetorical question, how do you eat an elephant?  Of course the answer is one bite at a time.  That’s how Wycliffe Bible Translators tackled translating the Bible.  It has now been translated into 700 languages! This project has consumed 75 years and countless numbers of volunteers around the world.  Scripture tells us, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”. (Isaiah 55: 1, NIV)