I want to be a giver.  Sometimes I am.  Sometimes I give because it makes me feel good about myself.  The older that I get, the more I am realizing how much my behavior has been motivated by looking good to others and myself, perhaps God…. rather than being a person whose actions are motivated out of thanks for the life and grace offered me.  I’m a wanna be giver, and a person who talks often about the fact that we as people are image bearers, and therefore made to contribute and create.  When I do give out of a heart of true generosity, I experience what I call the “transubstantiation of service”.

Transubstantiation is the idea my Catholic friends talk about when during the Eucharist (communion), the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ- not just a representation, but a supernatural embodiment of the risen Christ.  Whenever I choose to contribute to those who struggle, and even those who are doing  ministry to be a part of “kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”, I hear the words of Jesus.  He said- “whatever you’ve done unto the least of these, you have done unto me.”  When I join in that gift, I wonder if Jesus speaks to us in literal terms, that He embodies those contributed to- much like the bread and wine.  I know that when there is relationship involved in my service, and when my motive is right- the presence of Christ is palpable- its thick.  Perhaps my awareness is just heightened- and I get in on what is true all along.  He is with us.  This is what He said of course in His last words before the ascension.

When I give- there is a time for charity.  Charity is giving to people because they are desperately in need.  I can help them move from point A to point B and it usually involves someone’s daily survival.  Charity is a real challenge because everybody it seems needs your contribution, and when you give $10 or $20 to the guy on the corner with the sign, there’s someone else on the next corner.  When you send your contribution to the child in Africa, its just one child, and another organization needs your contribution in the Philippines (which is where my Compassion International child is.).  Parker Palmer said that when you give, you should give from your heart, according to what God puts inside of you rather than giving in response to the world’s needs- because the world needs everything.

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

So I want to be a giver, and acknowledging all my shortcomings, my weak motivation, and my questions about how to be a good giver- there is one thing I now know:  While charity is good, and necessary- investment is better.  Everyone is worthy of investment- and that is the work that I want CQ Missional to be about.  We are giving our time and resources to help young people discover their unique role in God’s story.  Our mentoring and educational experiences do this.  We invest, so they can invest, and God’s life flows through that work.  I am so excited to be a part of it.  We also are very interested in helping with community change.  We are partnering with and supporting folks who believe in investment.  Hope International is an organization who have their finger on the pulse of what investment is- and they’re taking on poverty as a calling from God.  Check out this excerpt from their blog about the difference investment makes versus mere charity.

“I believe we have misinterpreted God’s commands to help the poor. Jewish scholars state that woven through the Torah is an understanding that “not all charity is created equal.” They cite that “the greatest level [of charity], above which there is no greater, is to support a fellow Jew by endowing him with a gift or loan, or entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others.”

Does this prescription align with the majority of our charitable endeavors? Brian had deep respect that this Kenyan ministry served the “least of these.” But, was this charity in alignment with the biblical model of charity? Were they helping these women…

1)      To no longer need to receive charity?

2)      Experience the dignity of honest work?

3)      Enjoy the blessing of providing for their children?

4)      Know the joy of giving charitably to others?

In fairness, there are times when the only appropriate response is to freely give things away. The Haiti earthquake and support to the disabled are examples of such. But, barring such exceptions, our long-term aim should always be to help in a way which frees recipients of the need for our charity, “so that they might help others in need” (Eph. 4:28). Well-intentioned charity devoid of this goal can lead to unhealthy dependency and even addiction.”

Read more at the Hope International blog here.  Please consider supporting their work and read about their efforts.  Maybe they’ll challenge your idea of how to be a giver.

How do your efforts to help “the least of these” look like an investment that keeps on giving?   Do you see that your contribution is a kingdom building deal, where life is given perhaps for generations?  Are there people or communities that are right in front of you that could use your investment?  Is your intersection with them a divine meeting?

To all of those who invest in CQ Missional- thank you- and we plan to pay it forward.