I heard a funny
story the other day about Henry Ford, the automotive innovator and
founder of the car company. Henry Ford's parents both came from
Ireland. Having already become a world name and a success, he decided
to go to Ireland to explore his roots.
He arrived in
County Cork, where his parents had come from, and was greeted by a
welcoming committee from the local officials. They did the expected
gracious welcome and then, as I would say, "offered him the
opportunity" to give something in his parents' name to the fundraiser
for the new hospital. He said that he would be delighted to and sat
down to write a check for five thousand pounds.
The next day there
was an article in the paper praising Ford for his generosity and
announcing his gift of fifty-thousand pounds. Shortly after the paper
was distributed, the same committee knocked on the floor of his hotel
room to apologize and offer to print the following retraction:
"We
apologize for the error in yesterday's paper. Mr. Ford did not in
fact donate fifty-thousand pounds, but only five thousand."
Mr. Ford pulled
out his checkbook and said, "How much will the hospital cost?" They
replied, "Fifty-thousand pounds." And they got the check.
The story made me
rethink my years of criticizing churches that print the amounts
parishioners give in offering. With my propensity for typos, our
church could balance its books.
But something else
also occurred to me. Ford never asked what was needed before he wrote
that first check. He decided what he was willing to give.
As much as I write
about first fruits and our need to give, we also must ask about the
needs of those to whom we are giving. That must factor into my giving
decision. Certainly if the need is small, it does not negate our
giving, but if their need is great then we need to dig deeper.
Since all that we
have is ours to share, then the great needs of those we encounter
should make us open our hearts and our purses. We cannot feel good
when we have so much and others are in need.
The percentage of
giving to churches was greater during the Great Depression than it is
now. Not because the givers had more, but because the need was great.
Lord,
You made us all one in Christ. Help us to care for each other as one
and see another's need as ours.
Amen
