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We are not responsible for the actions of others, but we are responsible for who we are and how we live. |
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No Such Thing As Foolish Generosity
Last week I told a story
about a man who bought shoes for a homeless man who sold them for
booze. This man is known for being a bit of a pushover. He told
me a story about a woman he used to give money to on a regular
basis. She stood outside the post office when he went to get his
business mail every day. And every day he would give her a few
dollars. Until one day he got to the post office a little earlier
than usual and saw her getting out of a late-model Buick and
putting money in the meter and then taking her usual place to ask
for a hand out.
I am not sure what this
story means about this woman or her situation. What it did was
make that man feel like a fool. He had gotten taken.
But from where I stand,
all I see is someone being generous. We are not responsible for
the actions of others, but we are responsible for who we are and
how we live.
In his commentary on
Genesis, Luther spends a good deal of time on the story of Abraham
and the angels. It is a classic story of hospitality. We are
told that we never know when we are entertaining angels unknown to
us.
Luther says that this is how we are called to live. But he also points out that often it won't be angels we are entertaining. He acknowledges that we will get taken frequently if we live the life we are called to.
So as you carefully
check the ratings on the charities and plan your giving to
optimize your effectiveness, don't be too hard on yourself if you
sometimes get taken. It only means that you have learned a little
about generosity.
There is enough in God's
economy even for our foolishness.
Lord,
You give us everything including our need to give. Bless us and those whom we are called to serve.
Amen
Copyright (c) 2004, The Rev. Dana Reardon. Used by permission. The Rev. Dana Reardon (Mspastor@aol.com) is pastor at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warwick, RI. A lifelong Lutheran, she came to ordained ministry after 21 years in nursing, mostly in pediatric intensive care. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 1998 and served 4 ½ years in Upstate New York before becoming a New Englander. She is still trying to understand the accent. While in the Upstate New York Synod she chaired the Stewardship Team. That began her fascination with what makes stewards -- and more, what makes for generosity. She has three amazing daughters: Pastor Reardon says much of what she knows of life she learned from them.
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