The poor are all around us. Whether their poverty is defined by finance, relationship, health or faith, there are many out there. In the same way we can give via our wallet, our time, our energy or skills. From a random act of kindness to a full-on regular commitment, God is ready to put our action to use.— Mike Pilavachi on Soul Action
Why are we called to give? Mike Pilavachi is talking about the Acts of the Apostles, where the first followers of Jesus’ life set about establishing Jesus’ teaching and examples into their lives. Mike talks about the commission to ‘Go and make disciples’, and his message is that our lives are to be lived in obedience to this passage by giving to the poor. I believe he sees poverty as a barrier to discipleship; whether it be poverty of physical needs or poverty of faith.
I am left wonderring if maybe the fundamental metaphor of giving is not a dreadful mistake. Giving seems, in its most fundamental sense, to contain the idea of parting with something and transferring it to another. We give to the poor by parting (with money, with time, or effort) and transferring to another. I do not see this as wrong, just possibly incomplete.
I think obedience and living can have a much more intrinsic relationship with helping the poor. Instead of parting with something which is ours (our money, our time, our skills, our sweat) maybe we should see it as a life’s call to use the assets entrusted to us, the skills, time finances we’ve been dealt to work against poverty.
If poverty is a barrier to discipleship, it is a direct enemy of the comission. Do you see how this changes the focus? Instead of seeing ‘giving to the poor’ as a focus on our decision to part with our brass, it can be seen as a fundamental part of our every-day lives. If we know about an injustice, and we do nothing, we are not fulfilling our calling. If we see a neighbor in need, and are unwilling to act, we are actually failing in our comission.
Think of it, a comission is the agreement between an officer and his chief. If he fails his comission, he loses rank, prestige, honor, and pay. I don’t think this should be a guilt-driven discussion. Indeed, it can be exciting to see as a fundamental calling to make a difference! Also, if the resources are seen as belonging to our Lord (Chief, Father, Provider etc…) the focus shifts from ourselves and onto the task at hand. It also opens up a world of opportunity to fulfill part of our lives’ call. If poverty can be of faith or of emotional stability or whatever, we can make a difference, we can change lives.
What do you reckon? Is it a fundamental shift perception, or is it nothing more than guilt-relief?
