I was walking through a store the other day and heard an announcement over the PA system. Basically, if you bought a stuffed toy from them they would then give on dollar to a noble cause. This is defiantly a win win situation. I get a stuffed toy and get the satisfaction of helping a noble cause. The store sells a stuffed toy and gets the satisfaction of making money by promoting charity.
This sort of situation always leaves me scratching my head. Like the advertisement for a credit card I saw they other day. If you spend money on your credit card* the company will donate* to a noble cause. This means you can buy something other than a stuffed toy and get the same feeling of satisfaction. Win win.
(*On transactions over 10$.*They will donate up to 2 million.)
Of course it begs the question if it is a noble cause why doesn't the company just donate the money? Or why don't they lower their prices so that I can donate to charity? There really isn't much debate about why. They make money by promoting charity. That is why they sell everything in the color pink during a certain month of the year including a pink bible and fried chicken in a pink bucket.
When did charity become about buying things I don't need in order to help people?
It seems that everywhere I turn there is the possibility of getting something out of helping people.
"Buy a plate of food and proceeds with go to charity."
"Send us some money and we will send you a free gift!"
"Buy a bag of coffee and support our effort."
"Help the Orphans! Buy some earrings!"
"Get a tax deduction!"
On this last point I am probably getting in over my head. I have never made enough money in my life to even pay taxes so I am speaking out of ignorance. I certainly have no problem with giving money to a non-profit instead of to the government. On the other hand it seems to me like another form of painless giving. You give money away which you would have to give up anyway. I have no problems with tax deductions, it just makes me wonder sometimes.
Why do I need to get something out of helping people?
"But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I
will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me
nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid
fifty shekels of silver for them." 2 Samuel 24:24
King David refused to make a sacrifice which cost him nothing. It seems we can't make a sacrifice which doesn't give us something. It is more than just stuffed animals and pink bibles. People want recognition. Now you can post directly to Facebook every time you donate online.
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing..." Matthew 6:3
When I give something away, I don't want to be thanked. If
it is a blessing then thank God, not me. I don't deserve the praise.
There is obviously a place for gratitude and acknowledgement. However it
is interesting that when Paul is grateful for people he thanks God for
them.
"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3
I have spent a lot of time thinking about Luke 17:10.
"So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should
say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
I have always felt funny being thanked for doing my job. I did what I was supposed to do, big deal.
I feel that is escapes most people's attention that helping others is a duty, an obligation and a responsibility. To expect something out of helping people is like expecting to get a bonus for showing up to work. It is like expecting a drill Sargent at boot camp to thank someone for making their bed.
So when charity becomes a way for some people to make money and a way for me to get gratification what does that mean? It is gratifying to help people, but that isn't why you should do it.
Your supposed to love your neighbor, so just do it.
