At some point, you’ve probably been asked to contribute time, talent, and treasure to a worthy cause. I’m not a big fan of this phrase, partly because I think it’s been used so much that people don’t hear its real meaning anymore.Time, talent, and treasure has become blah, blah, blah.
Instead, I encourage people to offer what I call their renewable currencies:
- Relationships: Building bridges between others fosters community
- Strengths: Offering our skills and abilities allows us to encourage
- Resources: Giving away our resources challenges us to grow and be transformed
Step 3 of the Generosity Gameplan is to count your currencies. These currencies are grounded in your own uniqueness. They are the God-given gifts you have to offer the world. They are powerful because they anchor your giving in your heart’s desire to connect with God and others, rather than in reciprocity or obligation.
Spending these renewable currencies on your heart’s desire for connection produces stunning results. No longer will you feel uncertainty around your generosity. Instead, you will discover these rewards in giving:
- Richer relationships: Your interactions are deeper and more satisfying.
- More gratifying acts of service: When you spend your strengths, you experience the exhilaration of being valued and the joy of doing what you love.
- More effective philanthropy: When you are engaged and intentional in your giving, the projects you invest in have a deeper impact.
When you spend these currencies, instead of feeling like you have less after you donate or volunteer, you feel energized and replenished. Instead of being interchangeable with other donors and volunteers, you are irreplaceable and deeply valued for what you give.
The question to ask at this step is, “With whom and with what can I be generous?”
- What relationships form your network of business, social, and family ties? In other words, what social capital do you have to offer?
- What strengths do you possess? What God-given talents do you have to share and what skills have you developed through practice that can help others?
- What resources of money, time, space, and possessions can you leverage to do good?
Exercise: Your strength currency
- List your top five strengths. These are not just things you’re good at, but that give you great joy and satisfaction when you put them to use. Think of your work life, your hobbies, and struggles you have overcome.
- How have you been generous with your strengths? Which have you used in your volunteer work? How do you use them every day with your friends and family?
- What do you notice about your experience when you are generous with your strengths? How do you feel? How effective are you? What do others say in response?
Taking inventory of your strengths helps you make sure you are spending them when you help others, rather than just logging hours or filling a need. When you’re asked to do something, you can respond with good questions and evaluate the work according to what you love to do well.
John Stanley