Normalize giving to the poor and the needy beyond Christmas to live the spirit

The season that all of us look forward to is finally here with us as we celebrate Christmas (the birth of Jesus Christ though the dates differ) & other festivities till the new year begins. The cornerstone of the gospel is found in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. We have emphasized from there that one cannot love without giving and so God, who loved humanity, had to give His only son for our redemption. He had to do a practical thing for us to see and emulate. We should make the spirit of giving to be an everyday event and not an occasional one as we do around December.

Each one of us has something that we can offer to a society that has many needs and wants that cannot be fulfilled by governments no matter how much they try. Scholars, especially clinical medical experts have given five reasons why giving and hence daily giving venture is beneficial to humanity. First, they have pointed out that giving lowers the blood pressure, such that people who give despite their ages and other underlying conditions have been found to live longer say by even five years more because of just giving. The research conducted on such behaviour didn’t return any positive benefit to those who just receive, but it was found to be more beneficial to the giver. This is the reason Paul, one of the most learned of the apostles group, educated under Prof Gamaliel, stated in Acts 20:35 that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. Secondly, giving increases self esteem as one normally gives to those of lower abilities and as such makes the heart glad. Thirdly, giving leads to reduction in depression cases because giving is associated with the ability of the heart to be warm and glad and hence reduction of that dullness. Fourth, giving lowers the stress levels as one recognizes how others are in need and how they should be assisted. Fifth, giving brings about greater happiness as it triggers the warm glow that activates the part of the brain associated with pleasure, connection with others and feeling of excitement.