The Giving Pledge and the Riches That Matter

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

The Giving Pledge and the Riches That Matter
A commentary by Jeremy Lallier
United Church of God staff writer
Posted August 12, 2010
Not long ago, the Giving Pledge would have been laughed into absurdity by the tycoons and magnates of the day. Even today, the very idea seems impossible.

And yet, in spite of this, over 40 of America's richest men and women have publicly pledged to, during their lifetime or after their death, give away 50 percent or more of their personal fortunes—each one being counted in multiple billions of dollars.

Bill and Buffett and billions with a "B"
The Giving Pledge was founded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. They and the other billionaires participating in the Giving Pledge have each provided a letter explaining their reasons for pledging the majority of their fortunes to philanthropic causes and charity (available for viewing at http://givingpledge.org/ ).

Warren Buffett, who notes that he and his family can live on less than 1 percent of his wealth without lacking needs or even wants, has pledged to take the funds of the remaining 99 percent "and commit them to benefit others who, through the luck of the draw, have received the short straws in life."

The Bible places repeated emphasis on providing for those who "have received the short straws in life." For example, it places the needs of the fatherless and the widow (Deuteronomy 14:29; 26:12; James 1:27) as the responsibility of the rest of us. The Giving Pledge will likely go a long way to help those in need.

A problem
Even so, we've got a problem. It's not with the Giving Pledge itself, which will hopefully yield wonderful results. The problem is that society's woes run deeper than financial difficulties. Money alone will never be able to address the deep-rooted issues that cause us grief as individuals, as societies and as a planet.

Jesus Christ elaborates in His message to the seven churches of Revelation. In speaking to Laodicea, the notorious lukewarm church, He criticizes them for claiming, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" without realizing that they were, in fact, "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17).

Although the congregation at Laodicea possessed great physical wealth, they were in a spiritual state of disrepair. They took comfort and pride in the things they owned, not seeing that they were losing the only thing that really mattered—God's calling.

But Christ provided more than just a rebuke for His people. He also gave them the solution—the pathway to true, spiritual wealth. "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18).

The gold, the garments and the eye salve all represent a way of life in alignment with God's Word. When we daily apply God's instructions to the things that we do, the things that we say and the things that we think, we open the door to a life filled with true riches—peace of mind, meaningful relationships, hope for the future and a purpose for all time. (See our "3 Bible Tips" on "Lessons From Laodicea" for more on this topic.)

True riches
The Giving Pledge has the potential to do tremendous good in the world. But the riches that society truly needs lie not in the checking accounts of the Warren Buffetts and Bill Gates of the world. They lie instead between the covers of a book containing the wisdom of a still small voice, quietly speaking to mankind since the dawn of time.

Fortunes come and go; economies rise and fall; civilizations grow and collapse—but the riches of God endure forever. Make your investments wisely.