How do you imagine your giving as preparing for the next generation? When I first read this question, I contemplated on what it meant. Did it mean you simply offer financial support to families or children who represent the next generation? Did it mean you prepare for the next generation to live on because you gave to their family, or did it mean you were giving out of charity and prepared for your children to be the next generation of givers through example?

The question could be interpreted either way and still require you to think about something. It is an open-ended question that only you can answer. It is the same with the question in the scripture: "and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" Luke 12:20. It is your choice how many people you affect with your giving. You can give to one or a few people and strengthen their faith and understanding or you can spread the message of God through your giving with everyone and strengthen the faith of many.

Metaphorically speaking, you are a bird on a tree that is your community. You can give and build a nest of giving in your tree. It's a beautiful nest, enhancing the beauty and nature of the entire tree. You have done a good service to your tree in this way, but you have done another great service. In your nest, there are three baby birds. You will teach them and nurture them. Through seeing your good deed, your baby birds will soon be ready to fly, and, when they do, they will fly to other trees in possibly other parks. There, they will follow your example and build their own nests. Suddenly there is not one nest, but four, then thirteen, then forty, and so on. Giving is great, but it can be even greater when given to others.

You are a gift yourself by God, one to be shared with everybody, and your gift can be shared also. Whose will it be? Share your gift with the world and everyone will be building nests and the world will be more beautiful.

~ Alex Dungan