Here in the USA, 2010 has brought us to a curious and surprising moment: giving to the needy has become a fashion statement! I'm not joking! Back in June, billionaires Warren Buffet and Bill Gates hosted a posh dinner affair for some of America's Top 2%, and challenged them to give away half their wealth to charity! Although it hasn't become a tidal wave yet, the list of CEO's issuing press releases with plans to share 50% is beginning to grow. Already some are suggesting this is just too public and too exclusive. "Sure you can afford to drive a Bugati and spend your weekends on a yacht with beautiful people from Hollywood, but are you wealthy enough to give half your fortune away?" But let's wish these folks well.
You might be more impressed by another story that surfaced last week. We learned that the estate of the late Johnny Carson has just given $167 million to a whole list of charitable organizations. Mr. Carson was apparently quite generous throughout his famed career, but we never knew the rest of the story until last week. He died 5 years ago, so he clearly didn't do it for publicity.
This all came to mind as I've been thinking about the commands of Christ. On one occasion he told a wealthy young man to sell his vast holdings, give the money to the poor, and follow him. On another occasion, he warned a would be follower that the Son of God owned no house where he could lay his head. And then there's that pesky story of the poor widow whom the Lord commended when she gave her last two pennies to charity at the Temple.
Some have asked, "But surely she wasn't giving her last money in the world! Jesus wouldn't want her to starve to death, would he?" Those are interesting questions, but they miss the point. Perhaps she had a garden at home where she could pick some tomatoes and beans. Maybe she had a caring cousin who dropped by most Fridays to deliver some stew. But the point remains the same: she gave the only money she had because she was sure her Heavenly Father would provide for her no matter what. Money was only one of her resources, and the easiest to give away!
Before you and I speak too harshly about the motives of mostly non-Christian billionaires who may be obsessed with good PR, we should probably give more thought to the motives of 21st Century "disciples" like us who who seem obsessed with the Good Life. Most of us aren't giving away anything close to 50% for the right motives or the wrong ones. And we certainly haven't sacrificed our last nickel for the more profound needs of others.
Jesus told us, "Life is not measured by how much you own," but we still check the value of our houses every couple of months. And when his apostles reminded him, "Lord we have given up our houses, our lands- everything to follow you," he didn't say "You'll have it all back in a year or two." Rather, he said "You'll get it all back a hundred times over in Heaven."
For hundreds of years, the most celebrated figures in the Church were compassionate leaders who embraced poverty for the Kingdom of God; Patrick of Ireland, Francis of Assisi, Brother Charles of Jesus, the list goes on and on. Today we prefer heroes who have made it big and have some bling to show for it. Something tells me we are missing something important. Something tells me it's a cross.
What do you think?
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