Jesus said it was more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Truly successful people who have left a positive mark on the lives of many have learned this principle. People like Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Carnegie were givers. John Rockefeller Jr. stated: "Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege."

Effective giving is an art. Of course daily acts of giving can often be spontaneous. But when it comes to a legacy or large gift, it is worth weighing the various options. A person can give aid without end—and have few positive results come of it. Intelligent giving involves knowing what to give, when to give it and to whom it should be given. With all of that in place, the giver truly is the one who receives the greater blessing.