Is the blessing of giving more valuable than receiving ?

At Prosperis Partners, we believe that Generosity is a year-round way of life. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s coincide with a wave of caring and sharing among family and friends which radiates out into our communities. We celebrate this spirit of compassion and good-will.

Of course, we are not entirely selfless in wanting to lift up others. Biblical wisdom teaches us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” In our hectic and distracted lives, it is worth reflecting for a moment on why this is true.

There are at least two people involved in any gift – the giver and the receiver. If a gift is chosen and delivered wisely, both benefit greatly. In turn, each has a responsibility to ensure that the gift produces an optimal outcome.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received? A treasured memory probably comes to your mind. Perhaps it was a childhood surprise on a birthday or Christmas morning. Perhaps it was something more recent from a loved one. Remember that special feeling?

What is the best gift you’ve ever given? You likely planned it out carefully and went to great length to find the right item or experience. Remember how enlivening it was to see the other person light up with joy when they received it?

Our human condition is wired to give and to receive. These impulses reflect two foundational aspects for us at Prosperis Partners: family relationships and philanthropy.

How can the holiday season help us understand giving and getting in these important aspects of life?

Give great. Receive great.

A great gift is provided sincerely and sacrificially. It involves careful consideration of the other person and a meaningful commitment. There is a big difference between selecting the perfect present and passing along an unwanted and dusty item that has been lying around in your basement. The positive result of a great gift for the giver is significance. You know that you’ve done something meaningful for someone else and it feels marvelous.

A great gift is accepted with satisfaction and substance. The recipient appreciates the care and attention by the giver. They also commit to making the best possible use of the resource provided. A present met with a shrug and then discarded thoughtlessly, undermines its meaning and impact. In contrast, a gift well received and well used realizes significance. The perfect present delivers a welcome life impact and reinforces personal connections.

How do these interactions work within our families?

Prosperis provides the process by which elder generations encourage and support younger generations. We also help younger generations prepare for the opportunities available to them. In turn, those succeeding generations grow from solid receivers to strong and prepared givers themselves in the progress of time. There is an internal dimension of Generosity in thriving families that we nurture and develop.

How do these elements work in charity and philanthropy? There also is an external dimension of Generosity in thriving families that Prosperis supports. Giving meaningfully and effectively reflects your family values, develops cohesion in your family, and mobilizes family resources to serve others.

Prosperis Partners provides the tools and the process to engage the entire family productively so conversations and decisions are encouraging and life giving.

Chris Gabriel, a financial advisor and friend of Prosperis Partners, is an expert in purposeful giving. His definition of Generosity is a good summary:

Greater good

Great giving has an internal dimension (Attitude) and an external dimension (Action). It reflects consideration on the part of the giver in deciding how, where, and what to give and care in delivering just the right gift in the right way at the right time.

Is it better to give than to receive? Both are vital to happiness. Both are central to positive relationships. Both are purposeful use of resources. And both are essential to the work of Prosperis Partners.

In the end, however, there is no receiving without giving. We agree with the proverb.

During this holiday season Prosperis Partners wishes you joy and success. In particular, may you and your loved ones experience every blessing of great giving!