Citizen Columns
Question
In this time of such frightening economic news, what would you recommend as the single most important charity to keep on the donation list?
Answer
There are so many charities and so many reasons why a given person might support them that it is impossible to answer this question as a general recommendation. This may be exactly the right time to learn the true spirit of giving, not out of abundance but from what little we have. There are lots of remarkably generous wealthy people, but the person Jesus holds up as a model is the poor widow who puts just two pennies into the temple treasury. “For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living” (Mark 12:44). There’s no better time to learn the blessings that come from courageous generosity. And Christian giving is not only about relieving others and bearing their burdens, it’s also about an attitude of identifying with them. As Mother Teresa said, “give till it hurts”. And it may well hurt to keep up donations, to cut back on our own pleasures, lifestyle and security. Or to give more of our time, talents and prayer if the money runs out. And that too may hurt if we’re used to being generous with our money and getting some pleasure from that.
But the basic biblical rule of living is give and it will be given to you. “For the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6:38). Generosity comes back to you in unexpected ways. This takes determined faith, especially in tough economic times, which is why the Bible makes such giving an automatic response, a proportion of your income off the top (10% is the norm). This protects our decision to give from the vagaries of the market and of fears.
This “tithe” can be given directly to your church if the church in turn tithes to support other charities outside their own parochial needs. But if not, then it’s best to take some of that and give it away yourself.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
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