I am curious - my husband and I contribute to a small farm animal sanctuary operated by close friends of ours. They are wonderful people, and very devoted to their cause, and we get a lot of pleasure from donating to them and contributing to their events. That is the specific piece I am curious about - the pleasure we get from our giving. We always donate a good amount of money at their annual fundraiser auction, and privately make a regular monthly donation also. The annual fundraiser is public, and we think that contributing money in a public way might inspire others to do so also, but it also pleases us to give to them, and maybe a part of that is the public attention that we get from the giving. It seems like there is pride in that, and maybe we should be thinking about that? Any thoughts, Scott?
Without knowing you personally, my best guess is that you might be overthinking this. If it gives you joy to give, then give and don't think twice about it. Our motivations will always be mixed, which is where the grace of God especially kicks in. :-)
I am curious - my husband and I contribute to a small farm animal sanctuary operated by close friends of ours. They are wonderful people, and very devoted to their cause, and we get a lot of pleasure from donating to them and contributing to their events. That is the specific piece I am curious about - the pleasure we get from our giving. We always donate a good amount of money at their annual fundraiser auction, and privately make a regular monthly donation also. The annual fundraiser is public, and we think that contributing money in a public way might inspire others to do so also, but it also pleases us to give to them, and maybe a part of that is the public attention that we get from the giving. It seems like there is pride in that, and maybe we should be thinking about that? Any thoughts, Scott?
Without knowing you personally, my best guess is that you might be overthinking this. If it gives you joy to give, then give and don't think twice about it. Our motivations will always be mixed, which is where the grace of God especially kicks in. :-)