To all the teenagers and young adults: I was reading on the Rebelution blog ( http://therebelution.com/ ) an article about two Zimbabwean boys who were working hard for their family's, being generous. It went on to talk about those who have so much more than those two boys, and yet give so much less... and this is what they had found:
I don’t know about you, but we see a lot of teenagers with jobs, making money, buying Starbucks, buying clothes, saving up for a new computer, or a car, or a gaming system, or a ski trip, etc. — but give next to nothing away to anyone......According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2004, a
twenty-year-old making $23,000 a year, will give away less than one percent (or $180) of his or her after-tax income — while spending 11.2% (or $2,500) annually on clothing and entertainment. We’re sorry, but that’s pathetic.
According to The Barna Group, only 3 out of 10 twentysomethings have
given to a church in the past year — less than half the number of older adults
who have donated in the same period. And this is not a measure of donation size, but simply whether any donation whatsoever was made. Troubling study after troubling study makes it clear that young people today, even those who can afford it, are not being generous. We know how to get, but not how to give.
So what about you? Takudzwa and Panashe are giving 100% of what they earn towards supporting their families. Where does the money you earn go?
This is a challenge for young people to be generous~ with their time, gifts, and money!
Be generous with your TIME by skipping a sports event, a movie, etc, to come Walk/Run to help those who have been Trafficked. Be generous with your TIME and don't surf the web or play a mindless video game or paint your nails for the 3rd time, PRAY for those who have been Trafficked.
Be generous with your MONEY by paying for your own registration for the Walk~ give a little, and see what God does with it! :)
I don’t know about you, but we see a lot of teenagers with jobs, making money, buying Starbucks, buying clothes, saving up for a new computer, or a car, or a gaming system, or a ski trip, etc. — but give next to nothing away to anyone......According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2004, a
twenty-year-old making $23,000 a year, will give away less than one percent (or $180) of his or her after-tax income — while spending 11.2% (or $2,500) annually on clothing and entertainment. We’re sorry, but that’s pathetic.
According to The Barna Group, only 3 out of 10 twentysomethings have
given to a church in the past year — less than half the number of older adults
who have donated in the same period. And this is not a measure of donation size, but simply whether any donation whatsoever was made. Troubling study after troubling study makes it clear that young people today, even those who can afford it, are not being generous. We know how to get, but not how to give.
So what about you? Takudzwa and Panashe are giving 100% of what they earn towards supporting their families. Where does the money you earn go?
This is a challenge for young people to be generous~ with their time, gifts, and money!
Be generous with your TIME by skipping a sports event, a movie, etc, to come Walk/Run to help those who have been Trafficked. Be generous with your TIME and don't surf the web or play a mindless video game or paint your nails for the 3rd time, PRAY for those who have been Trafficked.
Be generous with your MONEY by paying for your own registration for the Walk~ give a little, and see what God does with it! :)