- Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr
Who would have guessed it? I know I wouldn’t have guessed.
Some new research (see infographic below) indicates that Americans give more to charity than any other nation – and that’s great! But we need to do more. We, the Christians in the United States, need to give more to charity. We need to help the poor be freed from poverty, to provide medical services for those in the US and in other countries, to provide even higher quality education.
We need to understand that poverty is bigger than money and stuff. It’s also brokenness, inability to provide, lack of protection. It’s broken relationships between God, ourselves, others, and all of creation. It’s broken systems that allow one person to take control of many.
We need to give more than our money. We also need to give our time, energy, and passion. We need to do it for ourselves, if not to help the destitute and oppressed – because we need to be invested in the work of the Kingdom of God.
And we need to do it ourselves – because we decide to do it. Because God is working in our lives. Because we need to see our own brokenness. Not because we’re forced or taxed to do it.
Finally, we need to be more careful to where we give our time and effort. We need to do all that we can to make sure that our resources (time, stuff, money, passion) are doing two things:
- Being used for the reason we’ve given them
- Doing good and not harm
God help us, we need to do more!
(By the way, I disagree with the final comment on the graphic regarding karma. I don’t believe in karma. I believe in planting and harvesting – sowing and reaping.)
budget planner – Mint.com
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Very interesting statistics. Thanks for sharing.
No problem. I was glad I found it.
One thing that stands out to me is that, according to this report, conservatives give more than liberals. I wonder if that is a function of ideology or income level.
And that the wealthy don't give because they can't afford it. Crazy!
I heard long ago and have believed ever since that this is the reason God continues to favor our nation in addition to our support for Israel.
I've heard that as well. And I wonder, if that is the case, how much longer we might find ourselves favored. Or whether our current situation is related to changes in charity and support for Israel.
Americans do contribute more to charity,and we should be proud of that. However, the people in France, Italy, and Germany have chosen to be far more charitable through their governments than we have. The health care in their countries covers all citizens, not just those fortunate enough to have jobs and pay for insurance. If you factored this charity into the equation, Americans might not look so good.
Interesting point Jeff.
I think that if we did that and also considered government-funded insurance as charity, we might find some European countries to be more charitable as a nation. I don't have any data to back that, but it seems logical.
However, that would not necessarily make the people more charitable. I'm afraid that I'm not of the opinion that a tax counts as charity.
Interesting point Jeff.
I think that if we did that and also considered government-funded insurance as charity, we might find some European countries to be more charitable as a nation. I don't have any data to back that, but it seems logical.
However, that would not necessarily make the people more charitable. I'm afraid that I'm not of the opinion that a tax counts as charity.
Absolutely – it’s impossible to solve the world’s ills with an infusion of money or “stuff” but that “stuff” can sure help make life better for people who are oppressed. To that end, changing political regimes and communities is similar – it has longer-lasting effects but even these ultimately change (if for no other reason than the people with the original vision are replaced).
Nothing short of the grace of God will ever truly eliminate poverty.
Thanks for commenting. And if I ever need to donate a car, I’ll think of you.