To whom do you give what?

When I’m in a new city, I always enjoy taking a walk around and soaking in all the beautiful sights. A museum here, a little square there, a beautiful building here, a lovely church there… or… mmmmm…

Lately, I’ve been starting to struggle with that last category. Quite a bit, actually… Let’s start by looking at one of those churches:

Beautiful! A golden altar, golden candlesticks, stunning paintings by the most famous artists—often, a museum doesn’t even have something so magnificent on display.

And then you hear the following text in a church: (PAY ATTENTION)

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9)

The explanation is something like this: if you give a lot to our church / me, God will give you a lot in return. And to be honest… when you read it like that, it’s hard to argue… right? Well… let’s take another look at it… and pay attention to the difference with the previous “Bible reading”:

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9)

Notice anything? No? Verse 9 was missing in the first “Bible reading.” Oops..

9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor” That’s what this Bible passage is about. The passage does NOT say that if you give a lot to the church, you’ll get even more in return. It literally says: “given to the poor.” And take another look at the first photo—does that look poor to you? Very selectively, and very deliberately, verse 9 was left out in that “sermon”… Clever, deceptive, or…?

And now, let’s take a look at another photo. (Homeless people waiting for a meal at the food truck)

This is what poverty looks like. All the possessions these people have fit into one bag. That’s all they own. No house, no bed, no fridge, often no food, no golden altar, no golden candlesticks, no beautiful paintings by the most famous artists. In that bag is everything they have.

To such an extent that there’s a good chance they don’t even know their family anymore, have massive debts, no friends, and don’t know God… so they have much less than what you see… oops.

And then, from that golden pulpit, in a heated building, with candlesticks holding beautiful candles, it’s said to those poor people… that they need to give more to “the church” so that they themselves can receive more… and verse 9 is conveniently “forgotten”? But that church, where literally the gold is splashing up against the baseboards… what does it do with all that gold? If you were to sell a few of those candlesticks… how many people could you feed with that? Is it even still a “church” when the gold is splashing up against the baseboards? Interesting question…

16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. (Matthew 19:16-22)

And for that reason… I no longer visit those kinds of places. I’m honestly ashamed when I walk past them… because outside, sometimes literally on the sidewalk, the poor are dying from hunger.