John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11
“Prosocial spending is most likely to satisfy the need for competence when people can see how their generous actions have made a difference. Thus, individuals may experience a bigger happiness boost from giving to charities that make it easy to see the positive impact of donations.
For example, both UNICEF and Spread the Net are deserving charities dedicated to improving children’s health in impoverished areas of the world, but Spread the Net offers a clear, concrete promise: For every $10 donated, the charity will provide a bed net to protect a child at risk of malaria. When participants were given the opportunity to donate money to Spread the Net, those who donated more money felt happier, controlling for their happiness before the donation.
In contrast, giving money to UNICEF provided no such benefit. People derive greater happiness from prosocial spending when they feel like effective, competent helpers whose actions have made a real difference.”
Elizabeth W., Dunn, Lara B. Aknin, and Michael I. Norton in “Prosocial Spending and Happiness: Using Money to Benefit Others Pays Off.” Current Directions in Psychological Science.
Our Scripture today provides a tangible example of giving. The one who has two shirts can envision the sharing of a shirt with someone who has none. The research shows that John the Baptist was on to something. This type of call to action engages a relatable response.
From the research, it makes sense that while both organizations in serve children in poor countries, UNICEF and Spread the Net, the impact of $10 to provide a mosquito net brings added benefit to the giver. They gain satisfaction seeing what their gift accomplished.
How can we do that at our churches and ministries? We must think of tangible ways to show people things they can give or the impact they can have with specific gifts. I think this helps get people who may not be giving to start to develop a habit or pattern of giving.
For example, right now, I am praying for God’s provision of $19,100 for Palmful of Maize. But if I stop there you are not inspired. But what if I tell you that that will spread the generosity training to the last 5 districts in Malawi at a cost of $3,820 per district. It still looks too big for some.
Imagine that $3,820 sends a team of 5 people to a remote district of Malawi and about $820 covers the cost of their travel, meals, and lodging for a week. The other $3,000 covers the cost of bringing together, all of tribal and community officials, pastors, and Sunday school teachers over three days.
We reimburse their bus fares and feed them. This gets them to come from the corners of each district. In each district, we engage about 42 churches and nearly 1,000 children directly. So at GTP, for about $3, the price of a coffee, you can train a child to “give God what you have.” That’s tangible.
It’s growing giving and growing the church in Malawi as children engage their friends. Check out the video here to see the impact. Give $3, $3,820, or $19,100 toward the Palmful of Maize effort here. Or pray with me for these funds to deploy the team now as it’s harvest season.