Givers and takers
As most anyone will tell you, there are two kinds of people in this world: givers and takers. Their names seem obvious enough. It’s hard to tell what makes them this way, whether it’s nature or nurture, or some combination of the two. The point remains, you will encounter them everywhere in your life and form relationships with them. You’ll learn that there are degrees and extents to which they operate, and you’ll come to appreciate something we’ve discussed in great detail before, the emotional bank account. People will draw on your bank account or make deposits in your bank account. You want to be careful that you don’t upset the balance so you’re left with too little or too much. A surplus can be overwhelming, while it may seem good at first, keep in mind that means someone is making conscious or unconscious deposits into you, at whatever costs to them. Usually these people are friends or loved ones who you want to invest into, as well. Givers are seemingly rarer and rarer these days, so you’ll want to take care of them in whatever form they come. Takers are as common as you’d expect, and unfortunately unavoidable. Some are natural-born givers, others work hard to become this way.
Awareness is key into understanding how exactly the givers and takers work. When examining your relationship with someone else, you’ll want to examine how they treat you and treat others around them. Are their motives and interactions self-serving or do they prioritize the well-being and prosperity of others, even if it inconveniences them? Now, take a look at yourself, what do you seek to get from others? Do you give of yourself or do you expect something in return? God asks us to give to others out of the goodness of our hearts, and not to expect things from others in doing so. He says to us, whatever you do for the least of yourselves, you do for Me. It’s important to be aware of those around you, their needs and their intentions, and even if they’re not the type to give, don’t let that stop you from having a generous heart.
