~Is the Act of "Giving" an Instinct?~

Note: The "Mystical Force" may be interpreted to mean that instincts are given to us by God.

We've discovered that giving to others sacrifices our own resources for the benefit of others. The unsaid message that accompanies any gift is, "I care about you, or I love you." Whether the gift is to a loved one or to a complete stranger, the message derives from the Mystical Force and more aptly says, "I want you to survive.”

Whether the gift is the simple courtesy of opening a door for another person or sponsoring a Christmas drive for the poor and needy, it recognizes that we are all sharing this world together and the survival and well-being of any other person is important to us.

In a real sense, all humans are distant relatives. The survival of any person is more likely to help us than to hurt us. Giving, loving and caring are deepest for other humans and only slightly less for animals and plants.

We are compelled to be "Givers."

The Mystical Force which causes us to be givers is so strong that we are compelled to give without really understanding it. Much like the birds migrating southward in the fall for a warmer climate, we become givers without ever questioning the good feeling that accompanies giving.

Birds fly unquestioningly south because of the instinctive force of survival, and we are compelled to give for exactly the same reason.

This results in much giving without expectation of a reward. Food, for example, might be given to stricken families without any thought of reward. Libraries are filled with books donated by givers who would never expect to meet the patrons. However, since the instinct is so strong and the giving spirit so prevalent, most everyone will become the beneficiary of a giver at one time or another.

Controlled "Giving" will Bring Rewards

Giving may or may not be accompanied by expectations of eventual reward. If a reward is expected, it very likely is because the situation is controlled. The giver might know the taker and create an understanding that the taker will be expected to reciprocate whenever an opportunity exists.

Since everyone is involved in the act of giving, it would be understood that "I’ve directed my giving toward you, and eventually I expect you to direct your same instincts toward me."

Whether or not this actually happens is unimportant, but gifts often do communicate these understandings.

Controlled "Giving" is Meaningful

It is a matter of survival that everyone controls his giving in order to assure that he will have a harvest to reap. If an individual simply gave away everything because he was overcome with the spirit of giving, he would find himself without food, shelter and clothing one day.

I would not suggest that all gifts be a calculated effort on the part of a giver, but that we should be aware of the deeper reasons which motivate us to give. Calculating, however, is important for any person who wants to obtain wealth.

Would a farmer plant his seeds upon someone else's property and then wonder why he had no harvest to reap? Would I write this book and then fail to copyright it so that I could obtain the royalties?

Would you work at your job all week and then give your paycheck to the first person you met on the street? Certainly not. Our giving efforts must be controlled so that we are allowed to reap the harvest.

~*~

This article taken from Born to Be Rich.

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