Give from what you've got

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…” Luke 16:10 NIV

My wife and I were watching TV this past week and we saw a story on “60 Minutes” about a program called Hope Chicago. It featured a story about a man who decided to change the fate of the entire south side of Chicago. He gave an entire high school a life changing gift. He paid for their college – room, board, tuition and expenses. He did this for everyone at the school, not just the seniors. The kids went nuts when they announced it.

Many of these kids were working full time while in high school and most households in their city earn under $25,000 per year. The driving force behind the gift was a man who explained that he thought he had hit the triple lottery: the family he was born into, the income level of that family that allowed him choices, and the schools he got to attend. He had made a fortune in his lifetime, and he was trying to impact the entire city. I thought it was ironic that he had made a large portion of his income as one of the largest growers of medical grade cannabis.

Most of the people interviewed did not really see how they were going to make something of themselves. They just knew they were going to try in spite of the statistics that show the chances were small. One of the kids they interviewed talked boldly about his absolute faith. He had no idea how, but he was positive that God was going to provide. After the gift was announced his enthusiasm was obvious. He said, “I haven’t had time to pray about that assembly, but God is going to get some special time tonight.”

The best part of the show to me was right after they announced all those young kids were college bound. It came after they announced that included in this program was going to be professional guidance on financial literacy, goal setting, and whatever they needed until they got their degree. The program is not about sending them to college. It exists to help them finish it.

Then they topped it. The parents, who were also invited to this event, were going to go to college too. Parents or guardians, who were part of that income statistic of under $25,000 per year, were going back to attend the college or trade school of their choice. The camera turned to a lady who had five children. She had worked multiple jobs continuously and had managed to get her first two children through college. With three kids still to go she would have known how daunting the task at hand was. The camera zoomed in to see her completely dumbfounded at what she had just heard. A tired mom took a breath. It was pretty cool.

It was easy to think about a billionaire spending money. He had plenty. But his gift was also duplicated at more than one school. In total he had committed to spend over $300 million in 10 years.

It had me thinking about how large the impact one man can have. It had me thinking how small the impact is that I am making. We could not do that same thing for one kid. Then I remembered, we have done that for more than one. Ours. We fully funded Jordyn’s life and I really do think that she outlived me. Her 16 years did more than my so far 58 years has done. She packed it full. Then came Aly, one of the best people I have ever met. She is grown and married, a gifted teacher and an even better mom. She owes me somewhere around $439,517 but who is counting. She handed us Harlee, the best debt cancellation ever. Korbin is his own kind of gift to the world. His contribution will never be measured in money, but it is obviously bigger than I can ever calculate.

My point is this, if I measure my impact on the world I always measure it against something I feel inferior to. Why? I think we are supposed to be good stewards of what we have been given, not of what we have not been given. Jesus does not comparatively save me. I get full grace. So can you.

As I get older, I sometimes think that my opportunity to have an impact is shrinking. I probably have three decades left on this earth. I was 28 three decades ago. God can do a lot with that amount of time.

I don’t have much money to give away. But what do I have? I have peace. Maybe someone around me needs some of that.

If I don’t have time or money to give, maybe I have space in my heart. I can pray off and on all day. Do I? Do you?

Challenge: When I think about any possible impact I may have on people or in this world I always think small. Why do I assume impact is mine to measure? My part is only to be obedient to what He asks. God’s measure is the only one that matters anyway.

Rick Claiborn