Editorial March 18, 1991 Issue

Giving from the heart

Elaine Natale

The book of Luke describes a scene at the temple treasury, where people were making contributions. Some who were rich gave much. Then, a poor widow came and made a modest contribution of two mites—the smallest pocket change. Christ Jesus pointed out to his followers that this woman had really given more in comparison with all the others; she had given all she had. This surely must have provided his listeners with something to think about.

The same book tells of how Jesus visited a man named Zacchaeus, who'd taken advantage of his fellow citizens in order to increase his own wealth. In the light of the truth Christ Jesus brought into Zacchaeus's life, however, his standard for judging success and his sense of what it meant to be rich were transformed. He told Jesus he'd give half of all he had to the poor and would return fourfold what he had taken dishonestly.

Money, per se, is neither good nor evil. The thought behind it determines its effect. A highly moral and spiritual quality of thought behind an act of giving ensures a lasting influence for good. This perspective, of course, is radically different from the way the world generally thinks of money and its use. The ordinary view is that money is a finite material commodity or power that provides influence to gain other commodities or powers.

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