You don’t have to be rich like Oprah to be generous: 4 biblical ways to be more philanthropic
Written By Amanda Dennis // EEW Magazine // Biblical Living
A woman at my church said, “If I was as rich as Oprah Winfrey, I could do more to help people,” then shrugged with a defeated look.
The pastor, who acknowledged the generosity of the 65-year-old billionaire’s surprise $1 million donation to the United Negro College Fund, said, “You don’t need to be Oprah to be a blessing”—and he’s right.
Here are 4 biblical ways to represent God’s Kingdom and do a lot of good—regardless of your socio-economic status.
Donate and show up. In Matthew 25:36, Jesus said, “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Remember when EEW Online Magazine reported on the viral story about two teenage boys who gave clothing and a pair of shoes to a schoolmate in need? That small gesture of kindness snowballed, prompting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. A little can go a long way! As for you, follow their lead. Don’t be afraid to go into your closet and share your possessions with others. Also, visit those who are in prison. Share the gospel and the love Christ with them.
Keep someone company and lend a hand. In 1 Timothy 5:3, God says, “Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.”
There are millions of widows right here in America, and hundreds of thousands more become widowed each year. After a woman loses her husband, she often struggles with feelings of extreme loneliness. If she is an elderly person, add to that the challenges of day-to-day fulfillment of simple tasks. Your presence would be a huge present—the gift that keeps on giving. There are widows in your church, local community centers, senior citizen homes and other places. Volunteer and make yourself available.
Take on some pro bono work: Sweat equity has great value and is worth a lot to a person that can’t afford to pay someone with your skill set. In 2 Kings 6, when the prophets who lived together under Elijah’s tutelage ran out of space, they all pitched in, divided up the work, used their carpentry skills (and whatever other skills were needed) to build bigger quarters. One of these men even borrowed an ax to help chop trees. Now that’s dedication!
You don’t have to be into carpentry to do something good. Look at your own unique skill set, and ask God how you can use it to be a blessing to someone around you that could really use your assistance.
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Strengthen the hands of the helpers: Matthew 10:42 says, “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (Matthew 10:42).
Giving a cup of water to a prophet may not seem like a big deal, but it certainly was when the very poor widow of Zarephath did so to help out the prophet Elijah 1 Kings 17:7-16. This man of God who risked his life doing the Lord’s work in very dangerous conditions didn’t have food and water. The widow’s act of generosity strengthened his weakened hands during a time of extreme famine. Here’s the remarkable thing: she gave out of her extreme need. She and her son were about to eat their last meal and die. But when she blessed the prophet, God blessed her abundantly, and she had no more lack.
There are more ways than this to be a philanthropist. Seek God for guidance, and ask Him to show you how to be a bigger blessing—whether out of need or abundance.
According to Acts 20:35, it truly is more blessed to give than receive.
