Giving so you don't have to later

Do you know people who are extremely generous? You may be one of them. There are some people that will give to others on regular occasions when the recipient didn't ask or even need what they received. Unexpected gifts are nice. I enjoy them as much as the next person. There's nothing wrong with giving like this ... or is there?

I've seen people who received these unexpected gifts turn around later and ask the same person who gave them these gifts for help with more important and serious matters. The person that did the giving all of the sudden had nothing left to give.

If you can give unexpected gifts, great! If you genuinely can't help when someone has a real need, that's ok. But, if you give now so you don't have to give later, then your gifts were no gifts at all.

Giving is a privilege and responsibility. Treat it as such.