Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

This is a hectic period for many families across the country. It means back to school and back to a routine for both parents and their children. With so many things going on, it’s easy to let healthy eating and physical activity fall down the priority list. Promoting physical activity and healthy eating has always been an interest of mine.

This led me to start working with children, working with them on Family Fun time project for a decade now and I have discovered that a child’s health and wellbeing starts at the family level. When we see children who don’t take healthy eating and physical activity seriously, it’s the first place we turn for fostering a behavior change. 

 Today it’s more important than ever for children to receive the same messages at school as they do at home. Teachers want to keep order—and a room full of young children jumping and playing is often quite the opposite. This lack of parallel between teachers and parents has been the focus of my most recent research, which I am collecting data for and preparing to analyze the results.

 There is no one-size-fits-all intervention, but below are four things that can help. 

1. Social support: Having someone to lean on within the family structure is crucial, whether it’s providing transportation to practice or simply sharing the activity. Kids who know physical activity is meaningful and that they can rely on someone for encouragement are always more motivated to stay active. This also reaches beyond the family structure. Some parents use social media for support with behavioral change. They need that daily interaction and can find it with people online. It’s all about finding the right support system. 

 2. Role models: It’s amazing how kids are so easily influenced, even when parents and family members don’t realize it. For example, children should not only share in physical activity with their parents, but they should observe them participating in their own exercise routine like running or yoga. This helps the importance of physical activity sink in. It’s also great when parents practice what they preach by eating healthy foods and providing opportunities for their children to get involved like shopping at a local farmer’s market or trying new activities together. 

 3. Holistic wellness: My research has always focused on physical wellness. But as I think more about overall health, and as I work with disadvantaged populations, I’m moving more toward a holistic approach to wellbeing. 

How can someone be physically well if they are not well emotionally or financially?

 All of these areas work together, so when people are faced with more pressing issues, physical activity and healthy eating often fall to the backburner. Setting and achieving goals in other areas of health and wellness can help families get to a place where healthy eating and physical activity become higher priorities.

 4. Accessibility: If people don’t have access to parks and trails or grocery stores with good fruits and vegetables at a fair price, it is much more difficult to stay active and eat right. Of course, just because people have access to these resources doesn’t mean they will use them, but it becomes impossible without access.... 

 Tips for Staying Active and Eating Right Whether you’re working toward a positive change with your child or just looking for helpful ways to stay active and promote healthy eating, consider these four tips. 

1. Plan outdoor/physical activities as a family. While the weather can sometimes be challenging in places like Minnesota, there are a variety of parks and lakes available to the public. It’s important to make physical activity a normal part of family time. Head out for a walk or find a playground nearby. 

 2. Get kids involved. While kids need parents or guardians who are active role models in their health and wellness, they also need to feel supported in their own There are a number of affordable options like soccer offered at local parks, dance classes or even play groups that kids can enjoy with support from their parents or guardians. 

 3. Make time for family meals. It’s important to allow 20-30 minutes for slowing down and sitting at the table together. Research shows students who engage in regular family meals are less depressed, have better grades and eat more fruits and vegetables and less fast food. 

 4. Let your children help with food preparation at an early age. This can be as simple as letting your children help with washing fruits and vegetables. Not only will they see the importance of healthy food by working to prepare it, parents and guardians are more likely to prepare meals at home if it means quality time with their children. If they are too young for washing or cutting food, try kid-friendly meals such as personal pizzas—great for assembling a masterpiece by spreading the marinara and choosing toppings.

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SO YOU WANT TO HAVE A FRIEND?

A strong, healthy relationship can be one of the best supports in your life. Good relationships improve all aspects of your life, strengthening your health, your mind, and your connections with others. However, if the relationship isn't working, it can also be a tremendous drain. 

Relationships are an investment. The more you put in, the more you can get back. These tips can help keep a healthy relationship strong, or repair trust and love in a relationship on the rocks.

How to strengthen your loving relationship Everyone’s relationship is unique, and people come together for many different reasons. But there are some things that good relationships have in common. Knowing the basic principles of healthy relationships helps keep them meaningful, fulfilling and exciting in both happy times and sad: 

<b>What makes a healthy love relationship?<b/> 

• Staying involved with each other. Some relationships get stuck in peaceful coexistence, but without truly relating to each other and working together. While it may seem stable on the surface, lack of involvement and communication increases distance.

 When you need to talk about something important, the connection and understanding may no longer be there. 

• Getting through conflict. Some couples talk things out quietly, while others may raise their voices and passionately disagree. The key in a strong relationship, though, is not to be fearful of conflict. You need to be safe to express things that bother you without fear of retaliation, and be able to resolve conflict without humiliation, degradation or insisting on being right. 

• Keeping outside relationships and interests alive. No one person can meet all of our needs, and expecting too much from someone can put a lot of unhealthy pressure on a relationship. Having friends and outside interests not only strengthens your social network, but brings new insights and stimulation to the relationship, too. 

• Communicating. Honest, direct communication is a key part of any relationship. When both people feel comfortable expressing their needs, fears, and desires, trust and bonds are strengthened. Nonverbal cues—body language like eye contact, leaning forward or away, or touching someone’s arm—are critical to communication.

 Relationship advice tip 1: Keep physical intimacy alive 

Touch is a fundamental part of human existence. Studies on infants have shown the importance of regular, loving touch and holding on brain development. These benefits do not end in childhood. Life without physical contact with others is a lonely life indeed. 

Studies have shown that affectionate touch actually boosts the body’s levels of oxytocin, a hormone that influences bonding and attachment. In a committed relationship between two adult partners, physical intercourse is often a cornerstone of the relationship. 

However, intercourse should not be the only method of physical intimacy in a relationship. Regular, affectionate touch—holding hands, hugging, or kissing—is equally important. 

Be sensitive to what your partner likes. While touch is a key part of a healthy relationship, it’s important to take some time to find out what your partner really likes. Unwanted touching or inappropriate overtures can make the other person tense up and retreat—exactly what you don’t want.

 Relationship advice tip 2: Spend quality time together You probably have fond memories of when you were first dating your loved one. Everything may have seemed new and exciting, and you may have spent hours just chatting together or coming up with new, exciting things to try. However, as time goes by, children, demanding jobs, long commutes, different hobbies and other obligations can make it hard to find time together. It’s critical for your relationship, though, to make time for yourselves. 

If you don’t have quality time, communication and understanding start to erode. Simple ways to connect as a couple and rekindle love • Commit to spending quality time together on a regular basis. Even during very busy and stressful times, a few minutes of really sharing and connecting can help keep bonds strong. 

• Find something that you enjoy doing together, whether it is a shared hobby, dance class, daily walk, or sitting over a cup of coffee in the morning. • Try something new together. Doing new things together can be a fun way to connect and keep things interesting. It can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or going on a day trip to a place you’ve never been before. Couples are often more fun and playful in the early stages of a relationship. 

However, this playful attitude can sometimes be forgotten as life challenges or old resentments start getting in the way. Keeping a sense of humor can actually help you get through tough times, reduce stress, and work through issues more easily. Focus on having fun together 

• Think about playful ways to surprise your partner, like bringing flowers or a favorite movie home unexpectedly. • Learn from the “play experts” together. Playing with pets or small children can really help you reconnect with your playful side. If it’s something you do together, you also learn more about your partner and how he or she likes to have fun. 

• Make a habit of laughing together whenever you can. Most situations are not as bleak as they appear to be when you approach them with humor. Learning how to play again A little humor and playful interaction can go a long way in relieving tense situations and helping you see the brighter side. 

If you’re feeling a little rusty, learn more about how to play again and improve your relationship. 

 Relationship advice tip 3: Never stop communicating 

Good communication is a fundamental part of a healthy relationship. When people stop communicating well, they stop relating well, and times of change or stress can really bring out disconnect. As long as you are communicating, you can work through whatever problem you’re facing. Learn your partner’s emotional cues Each of us is a little different in how we best receive information. 

Some people might respond better to sight, sound, or touch. Your partner’s responses may be different from yours. Take some time to learn your partner’s cues, and be sure to communicate your own as well. 

For example, one person might find a brief massage after a stressful day a loving mode of communication—while another might just want to talk over a hot cup of tea. 

 So much of our communication is transmitted by what we don’t say. Nonverbal cues—such as eye contact, leaning forward or away, or touching someone’s arm—communicate much more than words. For a relationship to work well, each person has to be receptive to sending and receiving nonverbal cues. Learning to understand this “body language” can help you better understand what your partner is trying to say. 

Think about what you are transmitting as well, and if what you say matches what you feel. If you say “I’m fine,” but you clench your teeth and look away, then your body is clearly signaling you are not. 

 Question your assumptions If you’ve known each other for a while, you may assume that your partner has a pretty good idea of what you are thinking and what you need. However, your partner is not a mind reader. While your partner may have some idea, it is much healthier to directly express your needs to avoid any confusion. Your partner may sense something, but it might not be what you need. What’s more, people change, and what you needed and wanted five years ago, for example, may be very different now. 

Getting in the habit of expressing your needs helps you weather difficult times, which otherwise may lead to increasing resentment, misunderstanding, and anger. Use your senses to keep stress in check If you’re not calm and focused, you won’t be able to communicate effectively. The best way to reduce stress quickly and reliably is through the senses. But each person responds differently to sensory input, so you need to find things that are soothing to you.

 Relationship advice tip 4: Healthy relationships are built on give and take 

If you expect to get what you want 100% of a time in a relationship, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Healthy relationships are built on compromise, and it takes work on each person’s part to make sure that there is a reasonable exchange. 

Recognize what’s important to your partner Knowing what is truly important to your partner can go a long way towards building goodwill and an atmosphere of compromise. On the flip side, it’s also important for your partner to recognize your wants and for you to state them clearly. 

Constantly compromising your needs for others' will build resentment and anger. Don’t make “winning” your goal If you approach your partner with the attitude that things have to be your way or else, it will be difficult to reach a compromise. Sometimes this attitude comes from not having your needs met while you were younger, or it could be from years of accumulated resentment building up in your current relationship. It’s all right to have strong convictions about something, but your partner deserves to be heard as well. 

You are more likely to get your needs met if you respect what your partner needs, and compromise when you can. Learn how to respectfully resolve conflict Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, but to keep a relationship strong, both people need to feel they’ve been heard. The goal is not to win but to resolve the conflict with respect and love. 

• Make sure you are fighting fair. 

• Don’t attack someone directly; use “I” statements to communicate how you feel.

• Don’t drag old arguments into the mix. 

• Keep the focus on the issue at hand, and respect the other person.

 Relationship advice tip 5: Expect ups and downs 

It’s also important to recognize that there are ups and downs in every relationship. You won’t always be on the same page. Sometimes one partner may be struggling with an issue that stresses them, such as the death of a close family member. Other events, like job loss or severe health problems, can affect both partners and make it difficult to relate to each other. You might have different ideas of managing finances or raising children. Different people cope with stress differently, and misunderstanding can rapidly turn to frustration and anger. Relationship advice for getting through life’s ups and downs 

• Don’t take out your problems on your partner. Life stresses can make us short tempered. If you are coping with a lot of stress, it might seem easier to snap at your partner. Fighting like this might initially feel like a release, but it slowly poisons your relationship. Find other ways to vent your anger and frustration. 

• Some problems are bigger than both of you. Trying to force a solution can cause even more problems. Every person works through problems and issues in his or her own way. Remember that you’re a team. Continuing to move forward together can get you through the rough spots. 

• Be open to change. Change is inevitable in life, and it will happen whether you go with it or fight it. Flexibility is essential to adapt to the change that is always taking place in any relationship, and it allows you to grow together through both the good times and the bad. 

• Don’t ignore problems. Whatever problems arise in a romantic relationship, it’s important to face them together as a couple. If an aspect of the relationship stops working, don’t simply ignore it, but instead address it with your partner. 

Things change, so respond to them together as they do. 

 Romantic relationships require ongoing attention 

Many couples focus on their relationship only when there are specific, unavoidable problems to overcome. Once the problems have been resolved they often switch their attention back to their careers, kids, or other interests. 

However, romantic relationships require ongoing attention and commitment for love to flourish. As long as the health of a romantic relationship remains important to you, it is going to require your attention and effort. If you need more relationship help and advice Sometimes problems in a relationship may seem too complex or overwhelming for a couple to handle on their own. In that case, it’s important to reach out together for help. There are a number of options available, including: 

• Couples counseling. It’s a big investment, and time, energy, focus and commitment are needed from both people to make a difference, but you might consider couples or marriage counseling to resolve your differences. Both parties need to be willing and able to honestly communicate what he or she needs, face the issues that arise in counseling, and then make the necessary changes. It’s important also that both people feel comfortable with the counselor. 

• Spiritual advice. Some couples benefit from spiritual advice from a religious figure such as a pastor or rabbi. This tends to work best if both persons have similar convictions of faith and have a good relationship with the spiritual advisor. 

• Individual therapy. Sometimes one person may need specialized help. For example, someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one may need counseling to help him or her process the grief. If your loved one needs help, don’t feel like you are a failure for not providing him or her everything he or she needs. No one can fulfill everyone’s needs, and getting the right help can make a tremendous difference in your relationship.

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GIVING PART2: 10 principles for Christian giving.

10  principles for Christian giving.

1. The Lord Jesus expects and requires us to give. Jesus said to His disciples, "when you give" not "if you give" (Matthew 6:2)! Hence, Christian giving is not optional, but rather essential. We often hear folks say: "in the Old Testament they had to give, but not in the New - now we only give if we want to." This is clearly not Jesus' teaching. He expected all His followers to be givers. Christians will give.

2. The Lord Jesus wants us to give for the right reasons. Jesus warned His disciples not to give for the sake of being admired by men. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them," He said (Matthew 6:1). When we give, we must be careful to examine our motives. We ought to give for the glory of God and the good of His people. We must desire His approval of our giving, rather than the praise and admiration of people. Are you giving for God's praise or man's?

3. The Lord Jesus wants us to practice benevolent or charitable giving. Jesus said "When you give to the poor . . . ." (Matthew 6:2-3). Jesus is specifically teaching about "alms" in this passage: aid, charity, or benevolent offerings for the needy. Do you give amply enough to the Church that she can be generous in benevolent giving?

4. The Lord Jesus reminds us that our giving is ultimately to the all-seeing heavenly Father. Jesus said "When you give . . . ; your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:3-4). When we give, we are not simply adding to the Church budget, we are giving up a thank offering to the Father Himself. Thus, we must all give "as unto the Lord." Our ultimate goal in giving is to please Him. Are you conscious of the fact that your giving is to the Lord and seen by the Lord?
5. The Bible teaches that Christian giving is an act of worship. In connection with the previous point, we see this truth stressed in another way in Paul's word's "On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save" (1 Corinthians 16:2). Paul here teaches the Corinthians that their taking up of the collection is an act of worship which is to be a part of their regular Lord's Day worship. When we put our money in the plate, we are worshiping Almighty God in accordance with His Word. Note well, Paul is speaking here of a "collection for the saints" - this is giving by the Church to the Church for the Church. Did you realize that giving is a part of worship? Is your worship in this area abundant or inhibited? Is giving to the Church a priority with you?
6. The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in light of the incarnation. Many Christians argue about whether the tithe (10% of our income) is still the standard for our giving to the Church (disputants usually want to show that less than 10% is fine). Paul says: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Christ's self-giving is now the standard for our giving! Our giving is to be inspired and instructed by Christ's inexpressible gift
7. The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in accordance with our means. Paul is quite clear on this: "For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12). Put another way Paul is saying that you should give in proportion to what God has given you. He said it this way in 1 Corinthians 16:2, "each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper." This means at least two things: (1) since we are all supposed to give proportionately, those who have more money are expected to give more [we who are particularly blessed materially must remember this], and (2) the Lord never asks us to give what we do not have, or contribute beyond our means. Are you really giving in proportion to the material blessings that the Lord has given you?
8. The Bible teaches that the liberality of God's blessings to us is connected to the liberality of our Christian giving. Though it may seem strange, both Jesus and Paul emphasize that there is a relation between our giving to the Lord and the Lord's giving to us. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6 "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
The desire to be generous and the means to be generous both come from God." Do you realize that the Lord has given you much, so that you can give much?
9. The Bible teaches that Christian giving must be willing giving, free giving. We learn this in 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion." But doesn't this contradict what we learned under the first principle, that Christian giving is not optional? The answer is, of course, no. True Christian giving is both mandatory and voluntary. It is required by God, but always willingly given by the believer. Is your giving to the Church something you do wholeheartedly, or indifferently, or grudgingly?
10. The Bible teaches that Christian giving ought to be cheerful giving. As Paul says "God loves a cheerful giver." This is a truly amazing assertion. Paul assures us here that the Lord takes a special delight in those who are joyful, energetic, merry givers. Is there joy in your heart as you give? Can you truly be characterized as a "cheerful giver"?
We have not come close to reaching our potential for giving. Won't you pray that we will give as we ought? That we will give for the right motives? That we will give joyously? And that we will give extravagantly.

We have learned these great principle from my mentor  regarding money and possessions:
1. God owns all things.
2. All things come from God.
3. We and all that we have belong to God.
The Bible says that we are God's "stewards." A steward is one who manages the money or property belonging to another person. As God's stewards, we are accountable to Him for the way we manage what He entrusts to us. We will learn how we can be good stewards, especially in the matter of giving. We will learn how we can use our money to make eternal friendships.
The Teaching of the Old Testament regarding Giving
When God brought His people out of slavery in Egypt and into Canaan, He gave them a rich and fertile land. Of all that they produced on this good land, God required that they give the first tenth to Him. This was called "the tithe." The word "tithe" means "the tenth."

The purpose of the tithe was to remind the people of God's ownership of all things and to teach them to put God first in their lives. God is exceedingly generous. He allowed them to keep nine-tenths of all that they produced, but the tithe, or first tenth, belonged to Him. The Bible says,
"All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord." Leviticus 27:30
In addition to their tithes, God's people gave free-will offerings. The tithes and offerings were given to the priests of God. This was the means by which they lived since they had no land of their own. God's people were told to bring their tithes and offerings when they came to worship God. God said,
"...they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (NKJ)
God was teaching His people to give. When they gave freely to God, God gave them abundant crops. The Bible says,
"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty...." Proverbs 3:9-10
Were God's people in the Old Testament always faithful in giving their tithes and offerings to Him? No, they were not. God said,
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8
What happened when they robbed God? They came under God's chastening hand. God said,
"You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation."
Malachi 3:9

When God's people repented of their disobedience and began once again to obey Him in the matter of tithes and offerings, God poured out His blessing upon them. God said,
"'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And try Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10 (NKJ)
The Teaching of the New Testament regarding Giving
The great principle in the Bible regarding giving is this: When we give to God, God gives to us. The Lord Jesus said,
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom." Luke 6:38 (NKJ)

When God gives, He gives bountifully. He is very generous. In Jesus' time, people bought their grain in bulk. Many sellers would pour the grain into a measure without allowing the buyer to shake it down. Not so with the Lord. He gives ''good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over."
Giving enables God to give to us. The more we give, the more God gives to us; the less we give, the less God gives to us. Jesus said,
"For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38b (NKJ)
Both the Old and the New Testaments lay down the same teaching: When we give to God, God gives to us. God is not poor; neither is He stingy. He loves to give to His children, but we must fulfil His condition — "Give, and it will be given to you."
God does not ask us to give to Him because He is in need of anything we have. He says,
"If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fulness."
Psalm 50:12 (NKJ)
God tells us to give because He wants His children to be like Him. God is generous, and He wants us to be generous. Another reason why God asks us to give is that we might "lay up treasure in heaven." We cannot send our money to Heaven, but we can give it to win others to Christ. This is laying up treasure in Heaven.
Principle of Giving
God's Word gives us a number of principles regarding giving:
First, give yourself to God.

The first gift God wants from us is ourselves. The order is: First, give yourself to God, and then give a portion of that which God has given to you. The Christians in Macedonia did just this, and the Apostle Paul commended them for it. Paul wrote,
"...they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." 2 Corinthians 8:5 (NKJ)
Give as God has prospered you.
In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to give the first tenth of all they earned to Him. In the New Testament, God has not laid down a law as to how much we are to give. Instead, God's Word says,
"each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income [as God has prospered him]..." I Cor. 16:2 (NIV)
What percentage of our income should we give? We can take the tithe (ten percent) as a guide to the minimum we should give, but our giving could be much more than this. It depends on how thankful we are for the way God has blessed us and how strongly we desire to "lay up treasure in heaven."
The Christian businessman, R.G. LeTourneau, made a practice of giving ninety percent of his earnings to God. One day someone asked him, "Mr. LeTourneau, is it true that you give ninety percent of your income to the Lord?"
He replied, "No, I don't give God anything. It all belongs to Him. I just keep back ten percent."
Give systematically.

Giving is an act of worship, and our giving must not be a "hit or miss" proposition. We are to give regularly and systematically "on the first day of the week" when we come to worship God. The Bible says,
"On the first day of every week each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income...." l Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)
No one is excluded. Old and young, rich and poor—all must be involved in giving. The Bible says, "EACH ONE OF YOU should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income."
Give cheerfully and liberally.

Whatever we give to the Lord, He wants us to give it out of a willing heart. God does not want us to give grudgingly. The Bible says,
"Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
Give wisely.
The Lord Jesus said that we were to be "good and wise stewards." Some Christians give liberally, but they are not wise in their giving. To give to a church or organization that is not faithfully preaching God's Word is not wise giving. We should be as careful in investing our Lord's money as we would be in investing in a business. We should invest it where it will bring the greatest spiritual returns.
How God Measures our Giving
You do not have to possess large sums of money to be a large giver in God's sight. God does not measure our giving by the size of our gifts. He measures our giving by how much we give out of what we have. God looks at how much sacrifice is involved in our giving. By God's way of measuring our giving, a poor person can give as much or more than a wealthy person.

Our giving should cost us something. On one occasion, the Lord Jesus stood at the temple watching as the people brought their gifts. Some were rich and gave much. Then a poor widow came by and put in two small copper coins. These coins were of little monetary value; yet in God's sight, this woman had given more than all who gave that day. Why? Because she had given all that she had, even her "living." Jesus said,
"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had." Mark 12:43-44 (NET Bible)
To Whom should we Give?
In His Word, God tells us to whom we should give:
We should give to our local church.

Most of our gifts normally should go to our local church provided that church is one where the Bible is faithfully taught and Christ is exalted. God has ordained that His church and His ministers be supported by the gifts of His people. The Bible says,
"In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel."
1 Corinthians 9:14 (NET Bible)
We should give to those who have helped us spiritually.
We are instructed in God's Word to share our money with those who have taught us the Word of God and helped us spiritually. The Bible says,
"Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches." Galatians 6:6 (NKJ)
 
We should give to those in need.
We are to give to those in need—especially needy Christians. This is one way by which we can show that we have the love of God in our heart. The Bible says,
"Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?"
1 John 3:17 (NKJ)

As a general rule, our giving to the needy should be done through the local church. All our giving should be done simply and without drawing any attention to ourselves. The Bible says,
"He who gives, let him do it with simplicity." Romans 12:8
We should give to those who are taking the gospel to the lost.
Every Christian has a responsibility to get the gospel to the lost. God's command to us is, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) If we cannot go ourselves, we should count it a privilege to help support missionaries who are taking the gospel to those who have never heard of Christ.

Giving is Sowing
Giving is not throwing money away; it is sowing. When we sow seed, we are not throwing it away; we are planting it so that we may reap a harvest later. The size of our harvest will depend on how much we planted.

This is true of our giving also. Writing to the church at Corinth concerning giving, Paul said,
"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." 2 Corinthians 9:6

God wants to provide money for the support of His churches and money to send His servants to the unreached people of the world. How does He do this? He gives money to us that we may give to His work. He wants us to be able to give generously. The Bible says,
"And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NET Bible)

The Lord Jesus Himself is our great example in the matter of giving. The Bible says,
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJ)

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GIVING - WHAT GOD EXPECTS FROM US

GIVING What does the bible teach on principles for Christian giving? As we seek God's answer to that question and as we contemplate our own giving to the Lord's church in response to the clear teaching of His Word, perhaps it would be wise and helpful to review those principles here. Matthew 6:1-4 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 

 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 

 2 Corinthians 8:9-15 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 

But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 

For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality - at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written,

"HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. The way we give is an indication of our love for God. All things belong to God. God says in Psalms 50:10, "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." 

Everything we have received has come from God. God has only loaned them to us. John 3:27 says, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from above." We can never out-give God. In Luke 6:38 we read, "Give and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." We give so the Lord's church can better carry out its mission here on earth. 

The world must be evangelized, and the church must be edified, and the needy must be helped. Giving is one of the commands of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. 

On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper that there be no collections when I come." We see the giving here was to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. Notice also they were to make a regular collection every first day of the week. 

 Because of everything God has given us, including His Son to die for us, we should be anxious to give back to Him. In 2 Corinthians 8:12 we read, "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." God expects us to give what we are able to give. 

 How can our love for God be real unless it is expressed in our obedience and our giving? Our giving is an expression of love, and act of praise, and sacrifice to God. 

 How we give is an indication of where our priorities are. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Where is your heart? Since we can't out-give God, we should at least be liberal in our giving. As we read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 

Our giving is to be planned. We should not give because we feel we have to give. Nor should we resent that we need to give to please God. We should be glad that we can give to the Lord. We should never try to impress other people with our giving. If we do we already have our reward. Giving needs to be a private matter. 

We should not seek recognition for the things we do. Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen of them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. 

Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." We should seek the approval of God and not the glory of men. 

Our giving should not only include material possessions but we must first give ourselves to God. We are told in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." If we will first give ourselves to the Lord, we will have no problem in being liberal in our giving. Our liberal giving is part of worshipping God "in spirit and in truth."

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