by Gloria Colvin, Church Librarian

Jesus had a lot to say about money and giving that still resonates today. Several books in Trinity’s library explore his teachings about giving and provide guidance on giving in a way that aligns with our values.

Author Julie Salamon explores different motivations for and ways of giving in Rambam’s Ladder: A Meditation on Generosity and Why It Is Necessary to Give. Throughout the book she reminds us that we’re measured not by what we have, but by what we give.

In The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life, Adam Hamilton identifies giving as one of those essential practices. Reminding us of God’s generosity to us, he writes that one of the “keys to finding meaning, happiness, and fulfillment is generosity toward God and others.”

For those who like to read daily devotions, Robert Schnase has compiled four weeks of thoughtful readings in Practicing Extravagant Generosity: Daily Readings on the Grace of Giving. “Generosity,” he writes, “is a fruit of the spirit, a sign of our spiritual growth. God uses our giving to change the world for God’s purposes, and God uses our giving to reconfigure our interior lives and to change us!”

In the book Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most, authors Mark and Lisa Scandrette provide a guide to “clarify your life vision and values; cultivate practices of gratitude, trust, contentment, and generosity; and develop practical skills to align your money and time with the deeper values you’ve identified.”