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There are many reasons why it's advantageous for Christians to give to the less fortunate among us (Jesus may even have said a thing or two about it, but we're too busy to fact-check that right now).

In case you need a little motivation to be a blessing to others, we asked the nation's top experts on charity about the benefits that come along with being generous to the downtrodden - and apart from the most obvious things like feeling good and stuff, here they are:

1.) So your pastor will stop nagging you about it. It's super annoying when pastors keep gently encouraging you to be generous. Maybe if you start giving, he'll stop passive-aggressively pestering you about being selfish with the resources God has blessed you with.

2.) To get rid of all that annoying loose change. If you're having trouble getting your gourmet, artisan coffee into your car's cup holder each morning thanks to the pile of quarters overflowing from the top, it's time to give. Sure, you could spend an afternoon playing Guitar Hero and eating terrible pizza at Chuck E Cheese's with all that coin, but then you'd be that suspicious, weird guy hanging out at Chuck E Cheese's all by himself.

3.) Tax deductions, obviously. Tax-deductible donations are the best - it's like giving money and getting money all in one. In fact, biblical scholars now believe the widow in Mark 12 gave her mite primarily out of a desire to reduce her taxable income for the year.

4.) So you can share about it on social media. This should go without saying, but one of the most significant reasons to give is so you can blow your proverbial trumpet about it online. For example, if you give money to a homeless person on the street, take a selfie as you hand him the cash, and create your own hashtag like #JohnGivesBack so people can follow your charitable giving endeavors and heap praise upon you in the form of likes, follows, and retweets.

5.) To force God to bless you back. God signed a contract before the foundation of the world stating that anyone who plants a faith-seed by giving generously will get paid a thousandfold in return, in cash, within 30 days or less. Yeah, it seems like a pretty lopsided deal, but who are we to question His wisdom? Anyway, you can take advantage of this faith-seed loophole and give money for the sole reason that God will make you rich, healthy, famous, and beautiful. Guaranteed!

As for the rest of us, who are called to care for the poor and vulnerable, allow God to work through you when you sponsor a child in poverty through Compassion International. Search for a child who shares your birthday or try searching for a child with the same birthday as your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. You can make an eternal difference in the life of a child in need.