The
New York Times recently ran an item about Charles Feeney, who grew up
in a middle class family in New Jersey, served in Air Force, and
attended Cornell with the help of the G. I. Bill. He then formed a
company that ran airport duty free shops. After a successful career, Mr.
Feeney formed Atlantic Philanthropies. He has made modest provisions
for his five children and has given away six billion dollars to support
medical care, immigration reform, education, criminal justice advocacy,
and peace building initiatives for people in need. He hopes to
contribute his final one and one-half billion to similar initiatives by
2016 with the stated goal, "I want the last check I write to bounce."
The item I read
provided made no mention of Mr. Feeney's religious or spiritual life. I
have no idea about his relationship with God or about what he thinks
about a relationship with God. Yet, Mr. Feeney practices the kind of
stewardship for which multiple passages in our New Testament call. He
has not stored his abundant produce in a granary for himself, he has
given without compulsion, and he has maintained his humility. Warren
Buffett refers to him as a "spiritual leader" who encourages extremely
wealthy people to use their money for the benefit of others and society.
I know nothing about
Mr. Fenney's business practices and cannot extol him as a model of
virtue. I can extol his model of stewardship. He has provided for his
basic needs and helped his children to find their way. With the rest of
his resources, he hopes to benefit others. Whether or not we agree with
the initiatives he supports, we can admire his generous spirit.
Few of us have had or
will have the success or Mr. Feeney. Nevertheless, we all have
something to contribute. Those lacking financial strength have other
resources to use to help others. Those lacking time or health have the
capacity to care and pray. The stewardship to which God calls us begins
as we choose to give thanks for what we have by doing something for
others. I'm not certain why Mr. Feeney does this. As Christians, we have
a call to do that because we believe that the God who loves and claims
us also loves and claims the world. The purpose of life is not to
declare the person with the most toys the winner, but to help everyone
to enjoy life and the embrace of God.
The
article I read quoted Mr. Feeney as saying, "When you've got the money,
you spend it. When you've spent it all, let someone else get going and
spend theirs." Financial advisers may cringe at that, but it seems
consistent with scripture. The servants given the talents in the
familiar parable were expected to use them. The urgency for such
stewardship stems from taking advantage of the opportunities we have. No
one can do everything, but if we believe that everything and everyone
belongs to God we have ample reason to do something to help those who
lack. We do that not to earn a reward, but to express our gratitude and
our conviction that God will use our offerings in ways beyond our
understanding.
Yes,
stewardship season has returned. We need every gift, so we will accept
pledges made as a way of paying a bill or doing our fair share. Yet,
please know that the deepest joys and most lasting satisfaction come
from gratefully sharing our abundance. And don't forget the joy, for
reliable sources say that God loves a cheerful giver.
Grace and Peace,
LP
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