Gates, Warren, and super philanthropy.
July 17, 2006 · Print This Article
I’ve been asked a lot lately about what I think about the level of philanthropy being shown by the super wealthy like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Our good friend Ron has provided some excellent thoughts worthy of discussion:
“…I saw a story that was listing the things that he (Buffet) and Bill Gates can address with the amount of money they are giving away. For instance, for “only” 6 billion dollars, they can rid the world of malaria. It made me think, if he and Bill Gates had the philosophy to give away any “excess” wealth as soon as they acquired it, then they’d never be able to do what they’re doing now. Which has the greater impact? I know you’ve mentioned that maybe some people can contribute the most by acquiring wealth and giving it away. Maybe that’s not the way to have the greatest impact. As we’ve heard, Warren Buffet still lived a somewhat modest life in spite of his wealth. Maybe taking the “buying your own freedom” idea a step further is to invest any additional wealth with the idea of making a greater impact at some point in the future. Not sure…â€
“…Along the same topic, it occurs to me to ask if the people we’re hearing about giving away tons of money and getting involved in social causes (Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Oprah, Bono, George Clooney, etc.) are doing so in the name of Christ or in the name of “good will” and “doing what’s right?” Again this gets back to the question … then does it “count?” Or does God say, keep your billions? If it’s not done in God’s name, is it meaningless?…â€
Excellent questions. I think this reintroduces the “even the heathens can do that†bar we run into often. If even secular culture can produce such massive gestures of good will, then how much higher of a bar should we as the Church set for ourselves or is expected of us? What does that say about our current level of generosity? I also wonder if the maintenance of wealth could ever justify opulent lifestyles (I say this believing most everyone in the west enjoys a life of excess).
I look forward to everyone else’s thoughts as well. I hope to post more of my own soon.
First Corinthians 13:1-3 comes to mind—Read in Amplified Bible.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (Amplified Bible)
1IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2And if I have prophetic powers ([b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
3Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.
Many misquote “Money is the root of all evil”….in fact it is “The LOVE of Money is the root of all Evil”.
It is not wealth that should be shamed, it is the love of wealth.
I often question many that make their charity so public. Robert Duvall said it best in an interview where he stated the Rich in Hollywood often feel guilty about their own wealth and impose their giving on others.
Christians should not Love money and recognize where it comes from. To deny a blessing is wrong and not what God intends.
If it wasn’t clear from my comments that Brian posted, the first question I’m posing is this…
Which of the following has a greater impact…(1) As soon as we acquire any “excess” wealth, we give it away, or (2) As soon as we acquire any “excess” wealth, we invest it (not in an extravagant lifestyle, but in an investment) and years down the line (if we’re disciplined) we have much greater wealth that we can then give away.
To be sure, we all live an extravagant lifestyle as compared to most in this world, but merely having wealth doesn’t mean that one must live like a king. If I’m not mistaken, Sam Walton drove a pick-up truck and Warren Buffet drives a Lincoln Towncar and flies coach. But even most of us are capable of living below our means. If we choose to do that, what’s the best way to handle that extra money?
I can certainly understand those who think that we shouldn’t rely on riches but trust God for our day to day needs. But does that mean that we should all live on the brink of bankruptcy at all times by giving away anything we don’t “need” so God can come through for us again and again? Does God really desire for us to live that way? Or has God already come through for those who have wealth, and now He’s asking them to steward it? If so, then how? Do we follow the lesson of the parable of the rich fool and not store up anything in our “barns?” Or do we follow the scripture that says, “he who gathers money little by little makes it grow?â€
Regarding 1 Corinthians 13, I have to believe that when Oprah chooses to build and staff a school in Africa so orphan girls have hope for a future, that love is at least one of her motivating factors. And if Bill Gates and Warren Buffet want to help those dying of AIDS or any number of other treatable diseases, I find it hard to believe that love for the less fortunate plays no part at all in that. If a bunch of Hollywood stars decide to give money to the poor, can they do so without love being any part of their motivation? I suppose it’s possible, but I doubt that’s true for all of them. But for those that it is true, I guess the Amplified Bible calls them “a useless nobody.” And I thought they were a treasured child of the most high God. In any case, their actions show that they probably agree that “to whom much is given, much is expected.†Does that count as love?
Putting my second question another way…are non-Christians incapable of doing anything out of love? Is everything they do meaningless?
I would have to say #2 is the “wise” approach but I would add that simply giving money/wealth away isnt required to comply with the Bible. In fact it has been shown that simply giving money away to those in need rarely helps anyone!
If God has blessed you with a home for example, being a good steward and investing in that home can return blessings far beyond what simple dollars could have done.
There are many ways to invest and show Love to others, and I would argue that giving money away is never a good answer.
Surely Non-christians can show love….but often the motivation and glory are misplaced. That doesnt mean the works are not good, often they are.