| Substitutionary Service | | Print | |
 Andrew Carnegie was the leading philanthropist in the world at the turn of the nineteenth century. He was also an admirer of the writings of Herbert Spencer who, in his studies on Darwinism, coined the phrase “survival of the fittest.”Now it may seem quite a stretch from philanthropy to Social Darwinism and, in fact, Carnegie may never have connected them consciously; but there was, and is, a connection. The taint of Social Darwinism within the philanthropy taught and modeled by Carnegie is in the area of the purpose, goal and motivation of the philanthropist. Carnegie explained that gifts should not be simply given to the needy, but to those in society who have the capacity to use the gift for the improvement and advancement of society at large. Philanthropic gifts were to be given to deserving and capable people who would then reinvest the fruit of that gift into society. The winners would be you and I who inherit a better world and humanity. This is pragmatic, business-like and reasonable. This is not, however, giving and serving as Jesus taught. Jesus taught that gifts, whether life-gifts of service or gifts of material, are to ultimately be given to God. In a parable clearly to this point he said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” He taught the crowds to “give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” In this way we show ourselves to “be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Gifts of service, given through the vehicle of needy people, touch the heart of God when the motive of the servant’s heart was to please God. How the needy person receives and uses that gift is not the relevant point. This may strike you as impractical in terms of the immediate social benefit, but it’s a bombproof investment in your relationship with God. What if those poor, thankless and undeserving people you serve waste your time, squander your gifts and reject your efforts, as well as you? Well, they cannot obstruct the flow of your service directly to the heart of God. They cannot stop His hand from weaving all of your efforts into the fabric of the eternal Kingdom of God. Substitutionary service is the care and love we give to people, which is then applied to God Himself. It cannot be wasted, misplaced or lost. God stores as gold each act of kindness for the needy, when motivated from a heart of love for Him. Substitutionary service is a daily discipline of the true disciple. |
