“The next time you want to withhold your help, or your love, or your support for another for whatever the reason, ask yourself a simple question: do the reasons you want to withhold it, reflect more on them or on you?”
― Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
I like to play the role of judge and juror, doling out sentences of compassion based on my subjective superiority. The act gives me a feeling of dominance, that I’m in control of who’s deserving based on my assessment of their merit. I wish I were joking, but it’s often a good smack in the face when I catch myself withholding generosity, whether in words, action or cash.
When I was researching images, I considered a homeless person with hand outstretched, another was one hand giving flowers to a hand receiving them. The image above felt appropriate coming on the heels of Veterans Day. We hold our military men and women and high regard, as we should. Amen. They sacrifice at the highest level, protecting our country, and those in others around the world. In the midst of often irrational environments, they have to play protector of men, women and children from different cultures and beliefs, who may not want them there. I asked a West Point friend of mine to define the role of a soldier, and the response was enlightening.
“To defend and protect the US and its allies by faithfully executing the lawfully given orders of the chain of command from his/her immediate commanding officer. A soldier must do this while maintaining honor, integrity, courage, loyalty, respect and selfless service.”
Following a chain of command, he or she “must do this while maintaining honor, integrity, courage, loyalty, respect and selfless service.” Sounds like a certain Jewish dude from 2,000 years ago, following the will of His Father.
In this age of 24/7 grenade tossing on social media, we can point fingers at the deserved, whether righteous or wrathful. We stand in our glass houses and cast judgement on “those other people” who don’t stand for our definition of character and integrity. We do it on a very personal level when we play passive-aggressive with our spouse and friends, maybe withholding love or needed encouragement. We hold on to our money, not giving a few bucks to the guy on the corner who most certainly made bad choices, thereby cancelling his worthiness for our generosity. (By the way, is it OUR money? That’s always an interesting theological discussion of where provision derives.) On a political level, we discuss keeping people out with walls and such, sort of a velvet rope curbing entrance into our much cooler US nightclub. Yes-yes, I know, it’s not fair for us to have to foot the tax bill on education, healthcare and on and on. It’s also not fair that I was born white, straight, and on soil owned by the United States. To be on the winning side of the cosmic lottery makes it damn easy to pat myself on the back, then partake in withholding generosity.
My default on all questions is to find truth in scripture. God, show me how to discern when togive selflessly to others. The Bible has much to say about the concept, and “when” ain’t got much to do with it. Let’s look at some Old Testament verses in relation to giving money.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11″If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Seems clear-cut that the Lord gave us the United States. Sure, we traveled here, but we didn’t “create” the land and resources. There will always be poor people, and we’re commanded to give freely with no gritting of teeth. I’ve heard arguments that this is specific to the Israelites of that time, thereby giving us an out. Or skewing it a bit to say this refers to our countrymen, like ‘Mercans only. But that position creates some messy theology when looking at the entirety of scripture, particularly when we look at the life of Jesus. Plus I heard one of the most respected theologians in the country, Tim Keller, preach on this a few years ago in Dallas. He pulled no punches in saying we Dallasites and anyone claiming to be a Christ follower, need this same attitude of giving generously of what’s not yours in the first place.
In relation to helping others who may not look, speak or share our US birthright, the parable of the good Samaritan sets the high-water mark for neighbors never being strangers. I didn’t include verse 25 where it’s clear the person asking the question is a Jewish expert in the law.
Luke 10:29-37
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Jews and Samaritans despised each other, and were mortal enemies. Remember, this is pre-civil rights, pre-medieval times, like WAY back in the day. In the modern era, the equivalent would be a story of a black fella stopping to help an injured KKK member… in the heart of the Mississippi Delta… in 1930.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
He ultimately gave his life for all of mankind throughout history. All He asks of us is to give generously with time, talents and money, and treat everyone like we never met a stranger.
For damn sure we got the eazy-peezy part of the deal.
See ya next time. ML