Giving wisely...

On the topic of giving....I love to pick out gifts for my family. It helps that I love to shop, both online and in person, and looking for things that people would actually like. On that note, I pick out gifts based on a few things:

1). The person's likes/dislikes. I don't give people things based on what I would like, but what they like. To do that, you have know that person well. This requires actually cultivating a relationship with the person and caring about that person.
2.) What the person needs. That person might love chocolate, but if they're diabetic, I'm not going to give them a box of chocolates. I would try to give them a movie or a book.
3.) I do set a limit as to how much I spend. Most people will not want you to go in debt just to give them a present. I have several people that I buy for, so I need to limit it. Also need to take into account shipping costs....I have several relatives that don't live close, so I'll have to mail their gifts.

I've seen the ads on tv lately that seem to imply that women will only want expensive jewelry or cars for Christmas, and that men want power tools. I don't like what these ads imply. Seems to imply that if a woman doesn't get that ring or that car, the giver is less of a person. I also wouldn't be excited to get a power tool for Christmas, because that would suggest that you are now going to be doing some work.

Andy and I picked out our major Christmas present to each other this year: a 26" Ermerson HD tv/dvd combo. Granted, it was a want, but we also needed a new tv since the color on ours was going wonky. The detail on this is amazing....

Some other thoughts on giving wisely: don't co-sign on a loan for someone. You may think you're being a caring person, but all you'll do is wreck your credit if the person defaults on the loan. That piece of advice is found in Proverbs.
Don't help people/organizations that teach wrong doctrine/theology. This is trickier, as many churches teach things that sound Biblical, but are not actually in the Bible. Look it up for yourself anything doctrinal that anybody tells you. Which would also entail knowing the Word of God so well that you can tell a falsehood almost immediately. We don't want to support anything that is going to mislead people--that's not helpful and is actually harmful.

Beware who you give to. More in the next post.