Last week we spent time with two Haitian families who lost their home in the earthquake. Both families are grateful to be alive. Yet, their lives are no longer the same…they’ve lost everything!
As of late, I’ve heard people discuss donor fatigue when it comes to Haiti or giving in general. I get it. Giving and being generous is a struggle. No doubt there are so many needs, and yes it can be so overwhelming. Nobody said being missional would be easy!
Why do we get tired of giving? We don’t seem to get tired of entertaining ourselves, we don’t get tired of taking trips, we don’t get tired of buying music, or buying iPhone apps or homes. Churches don’t seem to get tired of launching new building campaigns. Pastors don’t seem to get tired of spending thousands of dollars attending conferences…these things excite us to no end…they never tire. Why? Let’s be honest, we are addicted to ourselves, our narcissism is deep, we thrive on our own personal delight. I know I do. And truthfully, all the above mentioned things can be good if done with a sense of balance, purpose and mission.
The point here is not guilt, but to recalibrate this sense of “donor fatigue” and how it relates to the Gospel. I believe donor fatigue is dangerous and evil. I don’t think the Gospel gives us room to get tired of giving and being generous. Here’s what I think, most people who experience donor fatigue are simply frustrated that if they give, then they will have to sacrifice something they want. We all have idols, most of us are not willing to admit it. “If I give again,” then I won’t be able to get something “I” want.
Pick up your cross…and follow the way that is hard.
I think it’s impossible to have donor fatigue when you meet a family that has literally lost everything, yet they continue to move forward with a sense of joy and hope! Like the girl in this picture, she’s lost so much in the earthquake. She had little before the earthquake and now she has nothing (material), but a tent and some clothes. Can we really get tired of giving? Can we really give to much?
Photo Credit: Daniel Davis
For me, it’s the weight of responsibility. I have to help these families. Not because I’m called to, or because I feel guilty….Actually, I want to help. It’s an honor for me to sacrifice my time, talents, finances…I want my generosity to rise to the top, and I want my desires and idols to be hidden in God’s grace.
My prayer is, that my biggest love in life would be giving. When I give I find joy. I don’t want to live for the temporary things of this world, I want to live for the things that really count in life. I want every activity to have a sense of purpose, every action to have a sense of renewal, every decision to be connected to a greater story of love and community!
So please don’t tell me your tired of giving… I don’t buy it…the best thing we can do is give until it hurts. Sure, you may have to sacrifice some things, yes that will be difficult, but I believe it’s the best thing we can do.
Well said friend. The narrative we are given for life doesn’t leave much room for selfless giving, for sacrifice. Jesus call us into a bigger story.
Big-C: You just get back from Haiti… was that similar to a conference in your line of work?
Anyway, Is it possible people (donors) are tired of giving for other’s experiences of social good, or maybe they’re being overly generous to their neighbors who have been on unemployment for 55 straight months rather than throwing coins to a third-world country they’ll never see unless they run an NGO?
I think the global context of this has to be filtered through the lens that lots of folks in suburbia and urban centers in our own backyards have had their lives changed and are on the verge of losing it all… maybe not at the hands of Mother Nature. Nevertheless, losing it all is losing it all no matter where one is, right?
Erick,
Good questions. No doubt many can’t give, and lots of folks are hurting in America.
Of course, I think you were the one that said kids are starving all over the world, while Americans run to the Apple Store to purchase an iPad. The contexts are simply different, and the Gospel also comes into play w/ orphan/Widow care.
I grew up poor. Yet, I’ve always had access to a free education, free clinics, free milk and cheese, clean water…etc! It also depends on who we consider our neighbors now.
But still, your point is true and valid. Its easier to give out of excess.
Thanks for being bold Chris. Well stated.
Guilt is not the answer. Giving from guilt will always be transient.Living missionally requires a connection to the greater story of the gospel of Jesus. Just as you have a connection to Haiti,I too cannot spend a single day since Jan 12 not thinking of my brothers and sisters there.Sadly, my thoughts/prayers/finances often do not make it to sex slaves in Thailand, orphans in Zimbawie, etc.
I think some of the “fatigue” comes from the lack of connection to a story after the emotions wear off and images from the TV or that great sermon fall from our minds.
I pray that people will always seek to be part of the story of love and community, but it will cost them more than a few dollars and comforts.
I think the “fatigue” is a disease in our lives because of 2 reasons. (at least these are the 2 reasons in my life)
1) My selfish flesh will always pull for me me me first. I even convince myself that I buy and do things for “good” reasons. But in the end it is because I’m not putting Christ first. I want the best clothes and toys for my kiddos because I love them (but they don’t need them). I want to look beautiful for my husband (but he truly loves me because of my heart for Christ).
2) I have felt (because I don’t feel this way anymore) that the problem or issue is just too big. And that my small gift won’t do much good. Satan did a great good convincing of that. But after hearing statistics like if 6% of Christians adopted there would be no orphans in the world or that if Americans gave up 1 Starbucks a week for a year we could solve the world’s water crisis. God’s people have the resources to help others in BIG ways, but we have to be willing to open our hearts, our homes, our talents, our resources, our 401K plans to do so.
What injustice has God placed on your heart? What makes you mad? What are you passionate about? God has given you that heart for a reason, now go do something about it. Church, we can do big things….
Adam,
Well said. It’s so much easier to love and sacrifice when we enter someone’s suffering, learn their story and share in their pain. Presence is vital.
Thanks for doing what you do!
The truth, we both have iPads… But, with regards to them, I said I don’t understand how we are in a recession when apple sales are through the roof on iPad at launch on opening day. I stand by that even after the iPhone 4 launch. It’s more than jobs being lost thats taking place here in America. There’s been a complete shift and widening within the poverty base. Our middle class has declined, nit because they are becoming the upper class, but because they are dropping into the lower class bracket (close or at poverty levels). Seems like I, and everyone else, don’t have to go very far to be generous or make a difference.
Hey Chris – glad to stop by and see what good you are up to. Perhaps the fatigue is more a result of the ‘noise in the marketplace’ (my own words) rather than a true dismissal of generosity or compassion. Think of it: for child sponsorship alone, how many organizations currently advertise that I can save a child’s life for $30/month? I can think of 10 right off the top of my head. Obviously, I want to do this and support these kids, but with so many competing voices advertising their needs, I think we find the source of our fatigue.
So, yes, I get tired of advertisements of ‘stuff’ even for consumables. I’m keenly interested in re-thinking how we communicate needs and effectiveness in the greater goal/common interest of serving the world’s poorest people. If we are all saying the same thing, aren’t we all just competing with one another for the same ends. That doesn’t seem very Kingdom either.
Good stuff.
Sincerely,
Justin