Why don't we give?
I've been thinking a bit recently on the issues of poverty, and my own response to it. My recent post on the Filipino baby seems incomplete, so I'm trying again with a few more thoughts on why we (I) don't give when it is in our power to do so.
1) First and foremost, selfishness keeps us from giving. If I give away half my lunch, then I won't have that half to eat myself. I might get hungry before dinner. No fun. So I'll keep my lunch. And my dinner, and my extra coat and the rest of my paycheck.
2) We carefully insulate ourselves from real poverty.
3) Fear of getting ripped off. Most of us have given to panhandlers in the past. Those signs and pitches are so well crafted to tug at your heartstrings, present themselves in the best possible light, and play on your guilt. "Just a quarter so I can get a sandwich?" "Ran out of gas money and we're just trying to get to Eugene." "Recently homeless with two young kids," and the ubiquitous "Will work for food." Even if you haven't seen the John Stossel documentary on the the subject, you've got to always be wondering "Really? What's in Eugene and how long have they really been trying to get there?" and "What are the chances that fellow would actually do my weeding for me if I offered him $50?" I know for a fact I've been taken advantage of any number of times when giving to some of these folks, and frankly it ticks me off. I hate dishonesty in any form, and I especially hate being manipulated. Better to say "I gave at the office" and leave it at that.
4) Fear / Frustration that the giving isn't being done Efficiently. This one figures in to my recent experience with the Filipino mother. My personality type prizes efficiency, categories, and systems. Therefore when individual, one-on-one requests such as this one are made, my inner voice complains "but there ought to be a program for that!" I do not mean a government program, by the way - those are just another excuse for not giving personally in my book. I mean a locally administered system in which needy and deserving folks are somehow screened, vetted, and - for lack of a better word - triaged. A central fund should be set up and administered by a responsible missionary. Money should be donated in large chunks so as to reduce the percentage lost to transfer costs. Etc, etc, etc.
Note, by the way, that my inner voice is not without merit or even scriptural support. The early church in Acts found themselves in need of just such a structure to handle the needs of their widows - the 12 Disciples (primary purpose: spreading the message of the gospel) were spending far too much of their time in admin. Solution: appoint 7 honorable men with the official purpose of administering their food program.
Indeed, we have a group in our church that has made its purpose learning and discerning how we can most effectively support our missionaries. And that group may indeed set up some sort of program, or fund, or something. I don't know. My point is, using the lack of a pre-existing structure and decision making framework as an excuse for not helping an individual is not OK. Using the Existence of a pre-existing structure when the person who needs help doesn't fit the right category is Also not necessarily an excuse for not helping an individual. Efficiency is not, like cleanliness, next to Godliness. When was Jesus ever really efficient?
1) First and foremost, selfishness keeps us from giving. If I give away half my lunch, then I won't have that half to eat myself. I might get hungry before dinner. No fun. So I'll keep my lunch. And my dinner, and my extra coat and the rest of my paycheck.
2) We carefully insulate ourselves from real poverty.
3) Fear of getting ripped off. Most of us have given to panhandlers in the past. Those signs and pitches are so well crafted to tug at your heartstrings, present themselves in the best possible light, and play on your guilt. "Just a quarter so I can get a sandwich?" "Ran out of gas money and we're just trying to get to Eugene." "Recently homeless with two young kids," and the ubiquitous "Will work for food." Even if you haven't seen the John Stossel documentary on the the subject, you've got to always be wondering "Really? What's in Eugene and how long have they really been trying to get there?" and "What are the chances that fellow would actually do my weeding for me if I offered him $50?" I know for a fact I've been taken advantage of any number of times when giving to some of these folks, and frankly it ticks me off. I hate dishonesty in any form, and I especially hate being manipulated. Better to say "I gave at the office" and leave it at that.
4) Fear / Frustration that the giving isn't being done Efficiently. This one figures in to my recent experience with the Filipino mother. My personality type prizes efficiency, categories, and systems. Therefore when individual, one-on-one requests such as this one are made, my inner voice complains "but there ought to be a program for that!" I do not mean a government program, by the way - those are just another excuse for not giving personally in my book. I mean a locally administered system in which needy and deserving folks are somehow screened, vetted, and - for lack of a better word - triaged. A central fund should be set up and administered by a responsible missionary. Money should be donated in large chunks so as to reduce the percentage lost to transfer costs. Etc, etc, etc.
Note, by the way, that my inner voice is not without merit or even scriptural support. The early church in Acts found themselves in need of just such a structure to handle the needs of their widows - the 12 Disciples (primary purpose: spreading the message of the gospel) were spending far too much of their time in admin. Solution: appoint 7 honorable men with the official purpose of administering their food program.
Indeed, we have a group in our church that has made its purpose learning and discerning how we can most effectively support our missionaries. And that group may indeed set up some sort of program, or fund, or something. I don't know. My point is, using the lack of a pre-existing structure and decision making framework as an excuse for not helping an individual is not OK. Using the Existence of a pre-existing structure when the person who needs help doesn't fit the right category is Also not necessarily an excuse for not helping an individual. Efficiency is not, like cleanliness, next to Godliness. When was Jesus ever really efficient?