Accumulating and Giving – The Twain Can Meet
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28380)
Singapore
June 30, 2021 9:54am CST
I had the privilege of working in a few countries and, as a CFO, met at close quarters a few very wealthy and their accouterments, private bankers, et al; the latter more of hangers-on. They dance to the tunes; the richer their clients are, the more their skills at play to please.
The agenda is accumulating more. Even the sky is not a limit to what their reach and power are. They feed off each other from the spoils of the whole process. It is easy for a few to fall into a trap, like one can make more when they have more in their hands. So the frenzy is built to up the ante. Then any trace of altruism is snuffed out.
The wisdom is fulfillment is in giving, sharing. When accumulating becomes all consuming, that becomes the be all and end all in existence. I used to joke ten dollars is more valuable to my boss than to me though he was worth several hundred million dollars and I was a just a paid employee!
Blessed are those who don’t compromise with their giving even as they accumulate more. Both can coexist and their pursuits then remain altruistic and sit light on their conscience.
Having seen the deleterious fallout from all consuming greed, I was happy to just have enough so that I have the best of both worlds; spells of luxury in between subsisting on needs. Well as for giving, it is based on give till it really hurts, but in a light vein, as there is only pleasure derived through giving from the heart.
Image: Giving and Sharing from free media site Pexels
11 people like this
8 responses
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
30 Jun 21
That's wonderful. A Bible passage reminds me on giving. It says it's more blessed to give than to receive.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
1 Jul 21
Giving comes naturally to those who have love, compassion, and contentment.
However, the more we have, the more we want is a fact of life too.
When we give, we can choose who to give but if we accumulate then we don't exercise that choice.
It becomes free for all at times!
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
1 Jul 21
@Shiva49 A true giver never counts. He gives unconditionally.
2 people like this
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
30 Jun 21
Yes there is pleasure in giving .. from heart.
2 people like this
@Bryanwati (158)
• Dibrugarh, India
1 Jul 21
Sometimes rich people in the community give to show how much they have and it has become a fashion among the rich people, I think the only thing to make a balance is the Reciever, to acknowledge and make them feel as equally important people in the community and not judging them who donated or paid or give more.
(Another Side effects of giving in the community) otherwise giving is sharing and sharing bring happiness , that's is what the heart desires.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
1 Jul 21
The giver and the receiver are equally important.
I have also contributed to helping poor students to have smartphones so that they can also study online.
They are deprived of basic needs as schools have moved online due to the pandemic.
One needs to take care the receiver is in genuine need.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
1 Jul 21
Some people just live from their conscious mind alone, and chase riches, because they want the security feeling of being rich.
They miss connecting to the unconscious feelings of security that are present within all people who are heart people, rather than mind people.
Love lives in all people, and can be acted upon either consciously, or unconsciously.
These people act consciously from greed, and feelings of insecurity, by wanting to be rich, but they miss the unconscious connection to the love that is within God, within themselves, because they want to be only conscious, not realising that consciousness is of the mind, and that the greater field of unconsciousness of the heart embraces all, because it is an infinite field, whereas consciousness is limited within time.
If they only knew that consciousness is created from love loving by the moment of love between God and themselves, or from themselves to another soul, they would connect to the unconsciousness of the infinite truth, and only use consciousness for day to day living, not take it as the be-all and end-all of whom they are.
Life to be lived fully, must not be only one-dimensional.
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
1 Jul 21
@Shiva49 The filthy rich are more filthy than the filthy poor, who live in the gutters, and are filthy as a result of that.
The filthy rich are filthy because they want to be more rich, even than they are now.
The filthy rich have a more comfortable life overall than the filthy poor ever could though, I suspect.
My Uncle used to help the down and out, and give them a Christmas party, and Christmas dinner, every year.
They always came around for the meal, but then they went back to their gutters after that again too.
Most of them have a really sorry story, if you sit down with them and listen to it.
The filthy rich probably have an interesting story too.
Our story is our story, and we shouldn't judge how people write their own stories, I guess either.
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
1 Jul 21
@innertalks Yes, as is said it is better to be rich than being poor.
It is a fact "Behind Every Great Fortune, there Is a Crime".
Blessed are those who remain a giver despite having great fortunes.
I have also seen a few having an idealistic take - I want to make a fortune so that I can help the poor more but that is easier said than done! When the first part is met, the second is forgotten!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
1 Jul 21
Thanks, Steve, well elucidated.
Life loses its meaning when it becomes one-dimensional - putting all eggs in one basket.
I have seen the very rich clinging to their fortune and then reality strikes; their own getting impatient. It is then too late to change course.
When we live with a conscience that we are mere trustees of our possessions and soon they will pass on to others we may not know even, then we are more rooted to reality.
I have seen the burden of wealth getting heavier as they reach the end of their lives here. And too much passed on to children will prove a negative influence as when you have enough to live, why bother to work at all?
And it is the hoardings that attract others and not the person who had toiled to accumulate. All in all, it becomes a losing proposition if greed overwhelms our heart, love, and compassion.
From a personal perspective, the whole burden fell on me when my very wealthy boss passed on, and that was one hell of a time but my connection with him when he was alive kept me going for a few years. And I felt sick in the pit of my stomach seeing a few vultures circling for the spoils.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
2 Jul 21
Being able to give some of what is earned provides something more valuable than wealth. A personal satisfaction of doing something for someone whether that person has less for than you, or has the same as you. It shows you care!
"God has given us two hands - one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing."
Billy Graham
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
3 Jul 21
Very meaningful saying, thanks.
Sharing means caring that should come naturally to us but a few get carried away with accumulation.
I recall Bill Gates saying anything more than ten million dollars bequeathed to children will prove a liability to them in the long run. Warren Buffet did not give anything to his children except a small amount to fund their education.
I had experienced in Asia how greedy one tends to get when the initial threshold of needs is met. It is easy to get carried away. Buffet and Gates had urged billionaires to pledge at least 50% of wealth to worthy causes but except a very few in Asia, most cannot even think of giving their "hard-earned" wealth and many die without a will, intestate, as they believe that will hasten the process of the inevitable!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
3 Jul 21
@Shiva49 Very true! How much can one spend in their lifetime? Interesting comment about Gates and Buffet giving money to their children. When one accumulates so much wealth suddenly it reminds me of the old saying "A fool and his money are soon parted." I'm sure there are many who have experienced that proverb!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
3 Jul 21
@dgobucks226 I have seen it myself in a few very wealthy families.
Unless one toils, they will never know what it takes.
1 person likes this
