A brand-new year is the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button on your everyday giving. No matter what 2024 has in store, you can show God’s generosity by how you share your time, talent, and resources with those around you.
Here are some fresh ideas to help inspire you to be more intentional with generosity this year:
1. Start with an inventory of abundance
Take a few moments to consider what’s in your hand and make a list of your talents, time, influence, knowledge, and skills. Our Wealth & Resources Giving Strategy guide can help.
2. Treat someone to a meal (secretly)
As God leads, consider paying for the person’s coffee behind you in line or pay the bill for the table next to you at a restaurant. And don’t forget to include a generous tip for the server.
3. Be generous with your words
The Bible is full of spoken blessings. Do a Bible study on some of the most-well-known blessings in the Bible, then try to make a habit of blessing people. Say thank you, offer an apology, mail a card, share a compliment, or crack a joke. God can use one kind word to change a life, so don’t hold back.
4. Prayer-cycle those Christmas cards (or baby/wedding announcements)
Use the mail you receive as a visual prayer journal to keep your loved ones’ faces and words top of mind. Pray for one person or family represented each day.
5. Start a generosity book club
A book club focused on generosity can provide a sense of accountability and help you apply the principles you learn to daily life. Here are 7 books to get you started.
6. Offer to run errands or help around the house
When someone you know is going through a crisis or a difficult season, offer to run errands, buy groceries, get their prescriptions filled, or pick up their kids from school.
7. Look for ways to serve others
Serve an elderly neighbor, busy family, or widow by offering to help with housework, laundry, or home repairs. Or cover the cost to get some task done professionally.
8. Provide childcare
All single moms, working moms, and parents in general could use a break. Offer to provide childcare for a family you know, or provide funds for them to hire a babysitter.
9. Thoughtfully re-home that expensive gear
As your kids outgrow their sports gear, such as trampolines, skis, and basketball goals, consider gifting them to another family. Offer to transport the equipment and set it up for them to enjoy.
10. Make some blessing bags for your car
Be prepared to minister to those experiencing homelessness by assembling bags of essentials, such as bottled water, energy bars, clean socks, lip balm, subway tokens, and gift cards.
11. Help someone get counseling
“Carry each other’s burdens, and … you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV). If someone you know is suffering from trauma, grief, or depression, help them find and fund Christian counseling.
12. Sponsor a child’s Christian camp experience this summer
Studies show that Christian camp can create a lasting impact on a child’s life. Set aside money now to pay for summer camp for a child who may not be able to afford it otherwise.
13. Volunteer at your local public school
A Harvard study found that a child’s success depends on having at least one stable relationship with a supportive adult. Contact your local school for opportunities to tutor or mentor a child.
14. Pray the nines
Next time you offer to pray for someone, put a date and time on your calendar. It can be as simple as praying every day at 9:00 a.m., 9:00 p.m., or nine minutes after the hour. Tell the person you’re praying for, or write down on a postcard every time you pray for them during a week or month and mail it to them when it’s full.
15. Welcome a stranger
From refugees and international college students to new neighbors or visitors at church, look for ministries and opportunities in your community to practice welcome by extending an invitation.
16. Give internationally
Pray about dedicating a greater percentage of your giving budget this year to a nation God is calling you to help. Our international granting partner, TrustBridge Global, can help. Explore their GivingSpace to learn about opportunities around the world.
17. Explore your “why” as a family
Carve out a special time with your kids or grandkids to explore what the Bible says about money and giving. Our 10 principles of biblical generosity devotional is a good resource to use.
18. Start a new (generosity) workout
Try stretching your “giving muscle” with these generosity exercises that you can use to intentionally incorporate more acts of giving into your daily life.
19. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
If you feel hurt or confused by someone’s behavior, consider responding with grace for “love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
20. Give up the grumble
Do yourself a favor and reinforce your faith and renew your mind by replacing negative thoughts and expressions of doubt and fear with words of hope and healing based on biblical promises.
21. Go somewhere new
Take a day trip to a different part of your city (or another one) to experience the way your neighbors live, eat, and work there. Go for a prayer walk through that part of town and ask God to show you how you can invest generously there.
22. Evaluate your impact
As the year goes on, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals. Use a generosity journal to record your progress, or use your Giving Fund to run reports. Decide what you want to continue or increase.
23. Investigate innovative ways to give
Did you know it may be possible to give more than you ever dreamed you could by changing what you give? Call your local NCF team to see how you can use your non-cash assets for greater giving.
24. Challenge your limits
Step outside your comfort zone and ask God to show you areas where you may not be trusting him to provide. Then make a giving move (big or small) to help overcome your fear.
Spread the joy of generosity right now by sharing this article with a friend!
Article Sheila Dolinger, NCF | NCGiving.com | Photo by Unsplash