I am currently reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens, and am enjoying it immensely. This novel, more than any other I've read by Mr. Dickens, is such a good social commentary. The main character sees and socializes with people who are passionate about raising funds for the poor in Africa, while they are neglecting their own families. The town of London itself is full of needy people who are entirely overlooked by the people who are so busy with their efforts to help needy people in Africa. Dickens writes of the main character, that he found himself in company of those who were "intolerable to those who were anxious quietly to help the weak from falling, rather than with a great deal of bluster and self-laudation to raise them up a little when the were down."
The book reminds me of the extremely expensive, diamond-encrusted bracelets you can buy for charity at jewelry shops. A thinking person can't help but wonder why, if you wanted to donate to a cause, you wouldn't just send a check to the organization rather than give only a small portion of the large amount you would pay for this bracelet that is an obvious symbol to all who see it that you indeed contributed to this cause. Such hypocritical, self-laudulating, giving is something I just don't get. I don't get the fancy banquets with waiters in tuxedoes and centerpeices worth hundreds of dollars, and super-fancy linens all for a dinner to raise funds for such-and-such. How much of the money collected actually goes to such-and-such cause, and not to linens and centerpeices and fancy waiters? How much do the women present at these great banquets spend on their gown? Could they not have stayed home and written a check to the cause?
So much of what I see reminds me of the Pharisees, who would ring a bell when they gave alms to the poor, and would disfigure their faces if they missed a meal so they could give that money to someone really in need. They just generally called as much attention to themselves when they did something good or sacrificial as they possibly could. God tells us it is good to do all those good things for others, but do them in secret, He says, so only He knows, and we will have our reward in Heaven.
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You know, I've been reading that little book you thumbed through at my house the other day "Words that Hurt, Words that Heal," and there was a chapter on boasting. It's amazing how we sneak unnecessary things into conversations we have with people. We name drop and do things like this: We walk out of church early and tell the usher we need to leave for a speaking engagement (what does that say? "Hello i'm important!"), or we tell our friends that we did some good deed for someone only for them to think we're more godly or selfless. You know what I know? That God knows the motives behind everything we do, He knows that we are but dust, and we need to remember that every good thing given and every perfect gift comes from above. When I get a sweet note from a friend telling me they love me, I think to myself: "They love because God first loved them." I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells. If any good is done it's in the Spirit who was given me by God. He moves me to want to love better, to be a better friend, to be a better sister, daughter, auntie, person. To God be the glory forever!
Jen, it is sad to see how hypocritical we, even as believers, can be. I know I often care too much what people think of me when it only matters what God thinks. I pray I will learn to please people less, and please God more.
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