On generosity

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. "

Matthew 7:9 - 12, NIV 1984

February is the mother lode for birthdays in our office. Five people - a quarter of the staff - celebrate their natal days during this shortest of months. You know what birthdays mean in an office setting, don't you?

Treats!

An e-mail came through earlier today that a coworker brought in cheese and crackers for a birthday treat. Feeling a bit peckish (when you have breakfast around five, eight o'clock is about right for elevenses), I wandered into the kitchen - and stopped dead at the sight on the counter.

A giant box of Ritz, a tiny (as in placed on a six inch round cardboard, with room to spare) spread of cheese and four pieces of obviously leftover cake. All this generous bounty offered to a staff of twenty-two, plus various, always hungry, student workers.

While three course feasts are not the norm for birthday treats, there is a basic expectation that the celebrator bring in enough for all to have at least a sample. This spread wouldn't feed the rats in our building. The irony here is that the birthday girl is the first person to whine about everyone else's offerings, while simultaneously stuffing her face.

The message clearly sent this morning is one of indifference, uncaring toward those with whom the day is spent. It's an outward indication of the state of the heart.

Lest you think this is just a rant against a coworker, let me say I find this same kind of attitude not only in the workplace, but among society in general - including in the church. The Golden Rule has been shortened to "Do unto others" - as in do as little as possible for others without causing them to cut back on what they are doing for you.

Generosity, both of the hand and of the heart, needs to be taught, planted in the soul and cultivated. Self interest needs to be pulled up by the roots, tossed on the garbage heap and burned. In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul expanded on what Jesus said regarding our treatment of others with these commands:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3 - 4, NIV 1984

What have you done for someone else today?