My opinion of ‘Giving’ has been ever changing ever since I knew the concept. ‘Giving’ has been a recent topic in my school Whatsapp group and it triggered me to kinda dive deep into where I stand as of this day about this complex topic of ‘Giving’, though it may change as I roll into the future (disclaimer!).
The discussion started when there was a post of a doctor couple who had set up a home with their own personal funds where anyone in need can come cook and feed themselves and then it moved onto charity by individuals like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezoz, non profit /charitable organizations like churches, UNICEF and then shifted to a debate on whether Elon Musk must be channeling his funds in wiping away poverty on earth before he directs the trajectory of his wealth towards Mars.
Before I can even comment on others on their ‘giving’ style I decided to reflect on ‘my’ giving which started when I was a little girl. I felt like the most benevolent queen on earth as the few coins I tightly held in my hand were released to produce those tinkling noise on the aluminum plates held by the lepers and beggars who sat outside church after a Sunday service. I made sure I stayed far away from them and the frills of my frock did not touch those dirty plates that they competitively put forth as far as possible, sitting in the scorching sun to reach out to the ‘good’ religious people, who were exiting the church to their own cozy homes for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
‘Giving’ had a different connotation when I had to give from ‘my’ hard earned money and not from daddy’s coin compartment of his purse. I seemed to weigh all the options and give a lot of thought into who was deserving of that petty amount that I was willing to shell out from my paycheck. Sort of like a background check. Do they really deserve it? Is their lifestyle really a reflection of their poverty? More importantly, making sure the ‘petty’ contribution was used for the ‘mighty’ need they might have had. Oh! Moreover, it doesn’t really stop there – the legacy of the kindness continues as I meet them anytime in the near future where I strive to sense gratitude in their attitude and appreciation for my kindness for literally eternity. A ‘drop’ of charity for an ‘ocean’ of gratitude not to mention these ‘drops’ sneakily being a backdrop to a few humble conversations with friends or family.
Observing other ‘givers’ as I treaded along in life, I noticed there are people who do remarkable acts of charity but they sometimes don’t do it from their wealth or paycheck but start organizations that gets funded by noble hearts who trust them to channelize their hard earned money. Does that count as ‘giving’, I wonder? It somehow feels like the incentive cash back percentage we get on a credit card usage. You got to give them credit for at least the thought of thinking about others long enough to invest their time and energy on setting up a nonprofit or a charitable institution, while others are still linger in life minding their own business. Maybe their ulterior motive is to make a bigger impact than what they could possibly do as an individual. Who knows? But the name, the fame that goes with the act of goodness does it channel back to the actual givers? Does the actual giver actually remember? Perhaps if they had given because it moved them so much to give out of their tight budget that month. Or perhaps, it goes unnoticed because it was only out of the surplus and remembered again only during the tax filing season? Who cares for a good name as a ‘giver’ in the society or world anyway, right? ‘Philanthropy’, is it what it is called?
One of insights from the Whatsapp discussion was on the famous Good Samaritan story from the Bible. I looked it up just to freshen my memory from Luke 10:25-37. This story is actually told by Jesus himself in reply to a question – actually 2 questions….
Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life? (Question 1)
Jesus answered the question with a question, to the expert in religious law. “What do you think the law of Moses says? How do you read it?”
The man replies
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul all your strength and all your mind. And, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus simply says “ Right!” Do this and you will live”, to which the man replied, “And who is my neighbor?” (Question 2) and to this question, Jesus replies with the Good Samaritan parable story.
Most of us know this story of a Jewish traveler who was attacked by a group of bandits who stripped him of his clothes, beat him up and left him half dead beside the road. Three people came by one by one. A priest and a temple assistant were the first two, who were Jews too. The first wo simply crossed to the other side and walked on passing him by.
The 3rd was a Samaritan, who as a community were not even in good terms with the Jews. The Bible says he was moved with compassion for him. Going over to him he soothed his wounds with wine and olive oil , bandaged them, put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he took care of him . Next day he handed the inn keeper 2 silver coins telling him ‘Take care of this man . If his bill runs higher than this I’ ll pay you the next time I’m here.” Jesus asked, “Which one would you say was a neighbor to the wounded man?” “The one who showed mercy” was the smart answer. Then Jesus said “Yes now go and do the same.” – a smarter response and instruction!
I was reflecting on what exactly did the Samaritan do, that Jesus pointed him to be a role model to the entire human race. He used his own resources to fix the agony of a fellow human being. Not only the wine, the olive oil or the 2 silver coins but his time to be by his side nursing him rather than going on about his own agenda and life. Being half dead, the Jew probably didn’t even recognize him let alone thank him for his kindness. The Good Samaritan’s intention was driven by compassion and his actions exemplified mercy. It personally costed him to love his neighbor!
Standing behind the grocery checkout line right about Thanksgiving season, I noticed that a middle aged woman had her cart full of a particular brand of canned beans. Curious I asked her “Is this a good brand?” She said “ I don’t know if its good but its cheap. I am just buying for the homeless”. Before you judge her, listen to this episode in my life. I once wanted to buy some cakes for a prayer meeting of about 2 dozen people. No one I knew personally. The first thought that flashed, was a place called ‘French loaf’ where my son and I occasionally enjoy their soft, moist delicious cakes. I pulled up my car in front of the local French loaf franchise and my mental calculator immediately figured out it was going to be expensive, as it is not for two people I was buying but for a dozen people. ‘McRennett’ was the next best choice which isn’t bad after all I thought, though is not as classy as the former, purely dictated by the expert opinion of my own taste buds obviously. Pressed on the gas pedal to hit ‘McRennett’ down the road, which was unfortunately closed. Rather than going back, I thought I will find some ordinary cake shop en route to the prayer meet. A familiar route – so didn’t have the GPS on and soon I realized I missed my turn to the main road. Took the next best turn to my destination and guess what? I ran straight into a another French loaf pastry shop at the end of this unknown road in a totally different area. I distinctly heard ‘Love your neighbor as thy self’ out of nowhere! I listened and obeyed that Voice and everyone enjoyed the pastry while I gratefully enjoyed the live life lesson. Loving God, has been easy for me in life but loving my neighbor, that too to this extent (as much as me!) has been a challenge ever since and is a self-mastery project I am still working on.
The question is – What moves you to give? What does it cost you to give? Can you give when you get nothing in return – not even a thank you, no fame, not even for any butterflies in the chest or the endorphins in the brain. Does your left hand not know when your right hand gives? I know a friend who was planning to get a loan or pledge her jewels to educate the child of her poor maid. Would you go to the same lengths as you would for another man’s kid as you would for your own son or daughter? That’s the kind of sacrificial goodness in charity the half golden mongoose was looking for in Mahabharata as well. Can you put yourself in their shoes and be moved by compassion and show mercy even if it pinches you? Well, if you do, you are promised an inheritance – an inheritance to life – ‘eternal’ life by Jesus himself. Is that good enough for you as a reward for just ‘giving’? We are also told ‘Do not become weary doing good’. Can you keep up the good work even when no one acknowledges?
‘Give, and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”- that is one powerful scripture that shakes me up all the time. All the resources you have is from God. Whether it is the rich family you were born into or the rich man you have made yourself to be, the blessings come from above. The more important question to ask is – Are you ‘blessed to be a blessing’ to others? Will you remember that you were empty handed when you were born, got blessed in between somewhere and that you will be empty handed when you leave? Will you remember it long enough, so that when you get to that place of abundant blessing, you will pause and think back on the less fortunate? Or rather soak yourself in luxury to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor and throw the negligible crumbs to those born as orphans, the aged, the sick or the youth that got lost in life because their parents were in jail or because they were human-trafficked or got into drugs. Antennas may go up, “ Why should I help a drug addict?” Just because he/she is a human being who is loved to the same measure as you are by God. Maybe they will experience God’s love through your love. Who knows if you would even be alive and breathing until now, if you were in his or her situation? Why are we so interested in rationalizing the ‘how’, the ‘where’ and the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ rather than the ‘who’ we are helping – a fellow human – a co-creation of God. Who are we to judge the ‘giver’ or the ‘recipient’? God knows the true intentions of the heart for He trades ‘eternal life’ in exchange for compassion and mercy you show on ‘your’ neighbor, who you come across in your path in life. Does your heart sense the suffering of a fellow human being or you cross over and pass by just like the others?
The other day I was simply downcast in soul and spirit as my business has a taken a bad hit in the covid-19 pandemic. I must confess, that thoughts of how I should have been tight fisted through all these years and been a better manager of wealth than just listening to that silly heart of mine that moves with a mind of its own. I was blurting out some of these concerns over the phone with my 22 year old son. “Did you tithe, mom?” – the concerned question popped up and it jolted me. Tithing is a voluntary act of giving back to God 1/10th of the wealth that you were blessed with. Though, as a family we have been regularly tithing for several years, my rational mind thought what is 1/10 th of ‘nothing’ in the pandemic income and hence I had gradually stopped tithing. My son’s question stirred me to ask myself, “ Do I have to give back to God only when He gives me?” Even if I don’t make it for a few more months into the bleak future of this pandemic can I can ever outgive Him for all that He has already blessed me with, in the past. As I dropped that crushed, crumpled, last big dollar bill in the offering box, that I had carefully tucked away in the secret compartment of my purse in case of an emergency, I truly, truly felt like a Queen. I was reminded what it was like for the poor widow* who put in all she had in the temple offering. After all, all we own is an extension of His Mercy and compassion, including our very breath this moment. Are we just giving or thanks – giving?
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil ”, the Bible says. ‘Giving’ starts with the heart – the heart is not only a chamber of gratitude to the ultimate Giver but a treasury of love and compassion for your neighbor, which ultimately converts into a different currency for each of us!
The greatest Giver however is the One who laid His life for His people for their sins. Can we give anything more than our life ?
Mark 12:41-44
The Widow’s Offering*
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”