Sleeping with the Givers

One Mercedes Benz TV commercial shows its car colliding with a cement wall during the safety test. Somebody asked the company spokesman why they do not enforce their patent on the Mercedes Benz energy-absorbing car body, a design evidently copied by other companies because of its success. The spokesman's reply: "Because some things in life are too important not to share."

...Even in a dog-eat-dog, cutthroat world of business, sharing has its place.

God has never intended for us to cling to the things He lavished on us. All the talents, all the gifts, all the blessings are meant to be shared.

There's a story of a Pastor who was profusely thanked by a farmer after hearing his sermon on giving. The Pastor, testing the farmer, asked, "If you had one hundred horses, would you give me fifty?" The farmer replied, "Certainly!" The Pastor went on, "If you had one hundred cows, would you give me fifty?" And the farmer nodded again. If you had two pigs, would you give me one?" the Pastor continued. The farmer lost his cool and said, "Now, cut that out, Pastor, You know that I have two pigs!"

If there's one thing I have come to understand in this life, it is this: giving is always more blessed than receiving. As we give our time, talent and treasures to those who need them, the joy we experience is indescribable.

Take a good look around you and you'll see that the people who are in the business of giving are usually the happiest people on earth. That officemate who keeps on sharing her food during breaks, listening to those in distress. That manager who shares his knowledge and expertise to the new employees. [And many more like them.] These people are always enjoying every minute of what they are doing.

What can you give? Well, you can give your love for a start. A little of your precious time. A portion of your treasure. You don't have to look far. Those who are in need are near you, even right beside you.

"It has been said that the world is full of two kinds of people, the givers and the takers. The takers eat well, but the givers sleep well."

By Francis J. Kong
Excerpted from his book: Only The Real Matters