Almost everyone despises stinginess, save those who are stingy themselves. It's a characteristic of most people you wouldn't want to associate with because it appears to be the prelude to jealousy, greed, and insecurity. However, even the most generous people you know might become stingy for a short period of time due to a situation over which they have no control. So it was today, and I despised the fact that I was being so stingy. I am the type of person that will always help others, especially those close to me.
As a Christian assembly leader, I took on the position of a giver, and I can see the impact that assisting others has on myself. However, most individuals will try to take advantage of your kindness, which usually makes you feel painful. So, earlier today, we were preparing to attend a function in the eastern part of my country, which is three hours away from my home city. I had planned the trip with my wife and saved the money we would need because I did not want to travel in our car..
Usually, the majority of my assembly members attend the same function, and we all ride in my car to the location. If the car cannot seat more people, I normally pay for their transportation to and from the event. On this occasion, I had no plans to travel with anyone other than my wife, and that was all I had budgeted for.
When we were about to leave home to go to the garage for a vehicle to take us to the location, a member of our assembly, a lady, called to say she would be accompanying us to the event and that she was already on her way to meet us.
Shockingly, I questioned my wife if she knew about the lady's desire to attend the program, and she confirmed that she did. I also questioned if she notified the lady that we would not be traveling to the location in our car. When she answered that she didn't, I was shocked to the core since I knew what she must be thinking based on previous encounters. Nonetheless, my wife informed me that the lady was willing to assume responsibility for her transportation costs.
I knew what would happen on the way to our destination. The journey is long, and there are items someone will need on the way with money, and I didn't have any extra money because we had previously decided on the amount for the journey, and it was all I had with me when we set out. I found myself being stingy at most stages along the way. Usually we will have to get something along the way, like bottled water, and anything an individual can eat on the way since we did not have the time to eat at home before setting out for the journey.
My wife expected me to get her something to eat on the way, but I knew if I had to do it, I would have to do it for 3 people that I didn't have money for. I must ask my wife to ask the lady traveling with us if she would like to get something for herself first, so that after she has paid for herself, I will be at liberty to get her whatever she needs. It was a very hateful experience for me to see myself being stingy because I don't have enough money with me. And the worst part is that the lady would have a bad impression of me and might say negative things when she gets home .
I felt so sorry when I think back on the whole experience, not because of the lady I was traveling with, but more because of the situation I got myself into. I just don't want to be in a situation that makes me act stingy with money. I hate when I don't have enough money at a time like this, I feel sorry for the lady and my wife. I know they won't forget that from me for a long time.
The thing I hated about people was exactly how I acted in this particular situation, the fact that I acted stingy with money was the worst thing that had happened to me to date.
I know this kind of experience sharing probably won't help anyone, but I'm just trying to share what happened to me. The little confessions we make when we experience things differently, teaches us different ways to deal with our daily lives.
I am not saying that everyone should have no responsibility. What I mean by this is that if there are people who are supposed to be able to help you with things down the road and they have no means to do so, don't blame them for problems they are not responsible for.
Think about it yourself. Think about your situation and ask yourself how you would feel if you were on the other end of the picture. What would be your opinion of this person in general?
If this is not your usual way of life, it is not your fault that you did not have any resources with you to help them at the time of asking. You are not the one who caused it.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are most likely to be stingy with money, how do you deal with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.