Giving and Generosity

Submitted by Straight_Talk_Luigi (United States), Aug 24, 2008 at 20:29

Hi Polly, and thanks for clearing that up.

Being generous is important, and the Church I am a part of teaching that justice is due even to our enemies.

However, to commit immigration fraud is not a solution. Here in the USA, they are really cracking down on that.

It's easy for me to see where you are coming from. I too thought that by giving my women expensive electronics I was being generous, but I wasn't; I was more or less buying into her trap of using leverage in the relationship to get what she wanted.

The thing is, Polly, if you really want to be generous, then I would say give to charity.

It sure does feel good to help someone, especially someone you know or think you know intimately, but a lot of times, it doesn't work out.

I've been following some small claims court cases here in the USA, and nearly ALL of them involve:

1) Unmarried couples who share financial resources and credit cards and/or co-sign a lease

2) Friends who do the same and

3) Family members who cosign a loan or borrow money

Honestly, Polly, I wouldn't even loan money to even my closest relatives. That has happened in my family before, and they just won't pay back.

I realize that you wanted to help this man, and that is nice, but what we all have to understand, Polly, is that people too often take advantage of that help. If someone from the Third World is going to school in the USA, I promise you they are not so bad off compared to a lot of people. It may not be pleasant to be sure, but I would say that he can get by nonetheless.

Also, it's really not giving if you are getting or expecting something from that person in return. That takes on the formality of a contract instead of a donation.

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