OK, I know you might be saying enough, Coffee Snob, with the religion stuff, but I am who I am and it seems no matter what topic I approach I always go here. So humor me and read on. I think you will be pleased.

The Gospel of Luke says, "Give and it will be given to you, a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over - will be poured into your lap" Luke 6:38

I have to confess I LOVE TO SPEND money. So, for me to think of ways to save is like trying to think of ways to get into an outfit that I have long out grown. I attempt to save and then I find too many "good deals" or I go out to eat because I love to spend time with friends and family dining and debating and enjoying each other's company. Or, I just run into someone who needs a jug of milk or a new pair of shoes and I buy it.

Giving is fun. Especially when the person you are giving to doesn't have a clue where it came from. One of the rewards of giving is the things that come back to you and sometimes in greater abundance, but even more than that is the benefit of being able to give to another person. And although I don't give to see what I can get back, I do believe that by giving I am saving. Here's an example.

I like the coffee and bagels from Panera Bread Company. I can count on a cost of about $5.00 to eat there. But I like it so much that I want to share it and as a result I pick up enough to take to the office for everyone. My $5.00 expenditure has now become $15.00. But here is how it came back to me today, I took in bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and another employee brought home made, Cajun style crab, shrimp, corn and potatoes. We hadn't made plans for this, but each had decided to bless everyone at work. So, it worked that everyone had breakfast and lunch provided. Now, a lunch like I ate today cost about $30.00. So, the way I see it I ate both breakfast and lunch and spent only $15.00 - a savings of at least $15.00

I know it doesn't exactly play out this way all the time, but I do believe that the lunch was a return on giving. I don't know that I can explain the madness behind it, but I believe it is true that when you give it comes back to you in even greater measure. William Colgate, founder of Colgate/Palmolive Company was a man who believed in giving and it kept coming back to him in so much abundance that he gave millions away and his wealth abounded more.

Crown Ministries (Check out the link above) looks at 5 types of Christian givers.

1. The tiny giver (that's most of us)

2. The nominal giver - gives regularly but doesn't really experience a significant return

3. The nominal giver who does have some return.

4. The exceedingly abundant giver (A small population) who sees little return

5. The exceedingly abundant giver who receives great return

I will let you go to the link and read for yourself the article to see their thoughts on why some receive and others don't, but for me, here is the bottom line. Those who love to give because they desire to do so are the ones whose return multiplies. They give out of a desire to please God. They are quick to thank God whether He gives back to them or not and they re-invest their return into the lives of people. No matter how you bank it - giving pays off.

I believe it! And though I don't give hoping to get in return (well most of the time any way), I do seem to always have a lot pouring into my lap.