Wanted: Financial Folks

Many of us are aware of the philanthropic contributions of Oprah, Bill Gates, and the Rockefellers.  They've donated millions of dollars to impact the lives of millions through education and health initiatives. 

​But is that all there is to wealth in our world?

Have you heard of "The Giving Pledge"? In less than a decade, the organization has grown to over two hundred of the world's wealthiest individuals and families who have pledged to donate at least half of their wealth to charities during their lifetimes and/or in their wills. 

While the list includes such notables as Warren Buffet and George Lucas, most of us have probably not heard of most of them.  And yet, there are several individuals/couples who have each donated billions of dollars to charity. People quietly choosing to do the right thing.

2 When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you in all earnestness, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly—don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. 4 And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
​Matthew 6: 2-4 TLB

Jesus had plenty to say about the wealthy, including those of ill-gotten gain. Remember the "eye of a needle" deal (Matthew 19:24)? 

But here's what we sometimes overlooked: Jesus didn't write off the wealthy.

​2 In Capernaum there was an army officer. He had a servant who was very sick; he was near death....4 The men...said, “This officer is worthy to have your help. 5 He loves our people and he built the synagogue for us.”
6 So Jesus went with them. He was coming near the officer’s house when the officer sent friends to say, “Lord, you don’t need to do anything special for me. I am not good enough for you to come into my house. 7 That is why I did not come to you myself. You need only to give the order, and my servant will be healed...
​10 The group that was sent to Jesus went back to the house. There they found that the servant was healed.

The army officer probably earned his wealth fair and square. The same couldn't be said for tax collectors. They were notorious for skimming profits off the top, and considered traitors by their Jewish countrymen since they worked for the despised Romans.

Jesus's A Team, Peter, James, and John, probably thought He had lost it when He called Matthew to follow Him.

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s station. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him.
10 While Jesus sat at supper in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
Matthew 9: 9-10 MEV

Wouldn't you love to have been at that table? You got the Son of God, the host (Matthew), the Lord's first stringers, some of Matt's homies, and a few Pharisees thrown in for good measure.

(Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?)

Dearest Reader, no matter what your label in this temporal world, God has a job for you. He has a place for you here and in His heavenly kingdom. 

Labels just don't matter to Him. It doesn't matter, Dear Reader, if you're sick, a public official, a blue collar worker, a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker, a financial wizard...you are loved by the Son of Glory and Our  Everlasting Father. You can take that to the bank!