I've been thinking a lot lately about the widow's mite.* It's always bothered me that organizations hold large and lavish dinners and "thank you's" for their big money donors. It bugs me because of the widow's mite. What if we threw a large and lavish dinner for the donors that are giving $10 (as an example) of their money every month faithfully for years on end? What if we celebrated the mite donations rather than the large ones that always gain the most attention? What kind of message would that send?
I've listened to a fair number of fundraiser dinners and pledge drives in my lifetime and I'm always unsettled by the meager "thank you" faithful donors get when their dollar amount doesn't reach the organization's ideal for a celebratory thank you.* I think we have it backwards. I think we should start inviting all to the dinner, regardless of their dollar amount donation. And don't set up the seating according to dollar amounts either, mix them up. I'm addressing the Church here (and non-profit para-church organizations) because, as far as I can see, God has addressed this with us already. And I think we've forgotten or we've chosen to interpret it differently. In James 2 favoritism is discussed. Oh I can hear the protesting as I say that. But in that silent moment when you have to be honest with yourself think about it. Those large, lavish dinners for top dollar donors that aren't open to the $10 a month donors, what would you call that? Preferential treatment. Placating. People, it's favoritism at its roots. It is. I know, *you* wish it weren't so but wishing doesn't change what is fact.
The message it sends to those $10 a month donors is that while their donation is appreciated it just isn't quite enough. There are a *million* donor departments and consulting firms that would disagree with me. That's okay, I know what I know. I know what people share with me. I know what I observe. And most importantly I know what God says about it. God calls us to live backwards from how the world lives. I'm so crazy I think it would be awesome to take it one step further and invite the big money donors to fund a large and lavish dinner for the lower dollar donors!* GASP. It's such a bold and out of the box idea. *grin*
How have we gotten to the place in the Church where people who throw a lot of money in the offering get coddled and expect to be treated with preference? Oh those people wouldn't say they expect that and organizations/churches wouldn't say they coddle - in fact with that one question I have managed to offend pretty much every single organization and church in America - but they do. Again, this calls for an honest moment.
What kind of message would top donors send to the various organizations that they support if they were put off because they didn't get a thank you gift or dinner or something? Well it would reveal motive for the financial gift for sure. I've run into a few of these donors in my years touring Christian organizations/churches through jobs. They aren't pleasant people the minute they aren't thanked as they think they should be or their "suggestions" for the organization/church aren't implemented. And the moment that happens their financial gifts develop a stench. But those $10 a month donors? They are always genuinely surprised and grateful for any show of appreciation for their gift. Listen, those $10 a month people know their gift isn't much. They might even feel bad they can't give more. But those gifts, they count. They matter. In the end they add up to more than the gift of one top dollar donor. Their sacrifice, while they don't expect it to be recognized and appreciated, should be. More so than the top dollar donors. Go back to James 2, it's right there.
Now I'm not saying we shouldn't thank top dollar donors. I'm just saying that regardless of the dollar amount of a donation the "thank you" should be the same. $10 to one person is as much as $1000 to another. It's the same in their worlds. So in the world where thank you's are issued for financial gifts the thank you should be the same as well.
Celebrate the mite and you'll be living backwards.
*If you aren't familiar with the story click here. If you aren't familiar with what mite means click here and scroll down to "2 mite noun". You are welcome. :)
*And no, this is not because I didn't get invited to something and need to passive-aggressively point it out. In all honesty when I get invited to things that I know are costing money in order for the organization to keep my money I prefer to not go and just send in a donation. I don't see how it makes sense to spend money to get money. Again, a *million* donor departments and consulting firms would disagree with me and that's okay. Perhaps I'm just too simple minded for them. But I think that phrase "less is more" applies here as well. :)
*Take it one step further and use the money you would pay for a large and lavish dinner and put it instead toward the organization/church you support and just send a nice "thank you" email (why spend money on printing, paper, and postage?). I know, now I'm really talking crazy here. *wink*
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