In life there are things we do not just because it is right but due to the fact that we know that the alternative of it will make us feel bad about ourselves, for those things we do it just to feel good about ourselves. I'm from a Christian home, as a kid I was never a fan of tithes or any form of donations in church.
I just couldn't bring myself to trust the appropriate bodies to do what is necessary with what I have to offer. At first, my siblings thought it was because I was stingy, it is a common word among kids but they realise I can't pass by beggars without giving them something, sometimes I even offer things that aren't my own to beggars.
There was a time we were asked to donate some of our unused items to the church, it took a while before my dad could convince me to give up mine. He knew I respect anything Godly and I'm of great knowledge of the word of God but it seems my interpretation of somethings is just not appropriate. I remember the day he asked a very simple question but it sounds so complex, remember I was still a kid. He asked me, why do you chose to be kind to people? I remember rolling my eyes for awhile before coming up with something.
It sounds like a very simple question, though I knew asking me such question means he was getting at something. So I deliberated for awhile so that I wouldn't end up giving him an answer that would grant him the advantage of using my own word against me. So I said, it is because it is the right thing to do as a human and an obligation for us as a Christian. He laughed, then he replied, if that is all the reason why you need to be kind, why then do you care so much about who the receiver of your kindness is.
He explained further, he said if you find out that a beggar you gave your money to is not actually a beggar, what will you do next? will you arrest the beggar or try to take your money back? I was really confused but at that moment I get what he was getting at. The reason why I find it difficult to give donations to religious organisations or churches was because I didn't trust the appointed bodies to use the money for what is meant for, which is why I chose to give it to the needy myself since I can verify with my own eyes that they are actually the needy because I don't want my donations or tithes to end up fattening the wallet of a greedy person
At that moment my dad made me understand that, being kind is enough role to play. The moment you donate something for a cause, you already played your own part as a Christian and if the person taking the donation choose not to do what is necessary with the donation being collected, then let God decide the person's punishment because the more we try to investigate where our donations are going - the more it contradicts our purpose for the donation.
I mean we have to ask ourselves, why did you donate in the first place? is it to gain recognition or you are just being kind. If the former of the two aforementioned is right, then you already played your part. Having to always find out about the depth of things tends over complicate things, I donated something because I care, then why should I have to start worrying about where it is going, is that not too burdensome? If you feel the organisers of a specific donation aren't trustworthy, why donate?
I understand the present nature of things, I have witnessed people use donations as a means of extracting money from people, it shows how far gone humanity is. So yeah I do donate when necessary but I don't concern myself where it is going because I know better. If I feel the slightest dishonesty about the organisers of a donation, I won't bother donating at all, the moment I decide to participate in a donation means I have reasons to believe the organisers will do the right thing with the donation and if they still chose not to, well, may God decide their fate.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled A little charity in hive learners community.
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