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I am at the highest level of determination to make the best version of myself: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I came this far; and I am not stopping now – in America, I can do it. This blog is about my spiritual development. I don’t want to live the rest of my fourth and into my fifth decade in a meaningless fragmented life without any blessing. Giving is where blessings start. Giving is about stealing Karma from Karma. It has a double reward. I would like to share with you my new “philanthropic theory” that God has promised to bless my life, and that of every person who gives.
I believe the answer is in the Jewish book – the Torah. God has blessed them because of a promise he made to them. Wait! I am not talking about the “The Chosen People of God” or the “Promised Land”; I am talking about a blessing of opening the “windows of heaven”.
I finally cracked the Jewish code. It is undeniably obvious that the Jewish people are the richest group of people in the world. Most bank owners, CEOs of fortune 500 companies, Hollywood moguls, U.S. Senators, and members of the U.S. House of Representatives are Jewish. Have you wondered why? I believe the answer is in Malachi 3:10!
The subject of Religion and God is complex. Every geographical location on Earth has its own version of God. And, every person born in that region will be programed with its religion, faith, culture, and values. Every religious nation/group claims its exclusivity to “God’s Franchise Business”. Therefore, based on pre-determined chance, I was placed in a geographical location programmed with Christianity as the faith and religion of my life.
Most people know what Jesus said about whoever gave a cup of water; he shall not lose his reward (Matthew 10:42). But in Malachi 3:10 we read: “’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test 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 a blessing until it overflows’” (emphasis mine). God commands his people to TEST Him. The importance of Malachi is that the only place in the Bible where God seems to contradict Himself. God has already commanded “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test” (Deuteronomy 6:16).
I am sharing my simple personal perspective outside the philosophical, theological, and other explanations. The formula is simple: God challenged His people to bet on Him, to give back 10%, and He promised to bless them. He asked them to TEST Him. Well, here is the deal: the Jewish people do not have exclusivity to this God.
Over the past five months, I have kept my part of the bet – I gave back financially to poor people. I am waiting to see if God will keep His part of the bet. I am not waiting for the “windows of heaven” to open and “pour out” blessings upon me, but I am waiting to have my needs and dreams fulfilled.
Philanthropy has two sides: Giving and humbleness. We cannot talk about our philanthropic act without mentioning the motive behind our giving. Giving comes from the heart, stamped with our emotional blessing accompanied with humbleness. It is not about seeking world’s attention. It is a reflection of the inner heart.
I approached philanthropy from a religious perspective. I do believe that philanthropy is not only for rich people like Bill Gates and Angelina Jolie who give to poor nations and third world countries more than their own leaders provide for their people – which countries do have money, either from grants or internal wealth, but is distributed via corruption between their elites. All these philanthropists testify to the blessing of “giving”. Every person can do a philanthropic act. Every global citizen can give back (money, skills, water, phone calls, Facebook likes, tweets, or editing blogs). I am giving, and I am testing God. I am waiting for the blessing to come to my life.
Warren Buffet once said, “The people I really admire are the small donors who give up a movie or a restaurant meal to help needier people.”
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Ninos Youkhana 