The Corporations' Definition Of "Giving"
On the Today show this morning, Al Roker had several "special" kids (their word, not mine) who had various serious medical conditions, etc. Al made the announcement that the Today Show was sending them for a week to "Give Kids The World" - what appears to be a cool place for kids.
They proceeded to shower stuff on the kids, like digital cameras and some other things. The first time they mentioned all the "sponsors," I thought, "That's cool, such-and-such company is doing that..." But then, through the course of the story, they must've mentioned those companies another 3-4 times. Then I started to think, "Well, that's cool, but whatever happened to doing something nice just to DO it? Why do we have to always ask 'What's in it for me'?"
How is it any kind of giving or sacrifice if we gain from it? Is it really commendable that "Office Superstore" gave $500-worth of digital cameras, when they received a million dollars'-worth of advertising in return?
There is a great ad campaign by thetruth.com where people do a nice thing for someone else, then announce it via bullhorn to the world... "I just held the door open for this woman! And I don't even know her!" Etc. Isn't that the way our world - at the very least our 'corporate' world - works? Isn't that a shame and completely contrary to what just seems right?
As Jesus said, "When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
Those are some of my favorite words from the Bible. Not that I always live by them, mind you, but shouldn't that be one of our goals in life, to live more selflessly?
Wow. It's April 20th already, can you believe it? The year is flying by... Have a great Day.
They proceeded to shower stuff on the kids, like digital cameras and some other things. The first time they mentioned all the "sponsors," I thought, "That's cool, such-and-such company is doing that..." But then, through the course of the story, they must've mentioned those companies another 3-4 times. Then I started to think, "Well, that's cool, but whatever happened to doing something nice just to DO it? Why do we have to always ask 'What's in it for me'?"
How is it any kind of giving or sacrifice if we gain from it? Is it really commendable that "Office Superstore" gave $500-worth of digital cameras, when they received a million dollars'-worth of advertising in return?
There is a great ad campaign by thetruth.com where people do a nice thing for someone else, then announce it via bullhorn to the world... "I just held the door open for this woman! And I don't even know her!" Etc. Isn't that the way our world - at the very least our 'corporate' world - works? Isn't that a shame and completely contrary to what just seems right?
As Jesus said, "When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
Those are some of my favorite words from the Bible. Not that I always live by them, mind you, but shouldn't that be one of our goals in life, to live more selflessly?
Wow. It's April 20th already, can you believe it? The year is flying by... Have a great Day.
1 Comments:
That's a pretty cool quote from the Bible. Some good words to live by.
Was that clip you saw in Kansas City? I know Roker stopped by there the other day and hung out at the baseball stadium with my Kansas City Royals.
And they were doing something for kids there, too. Maybe that's the clip you saw. First baseman Mike Sweeney is an in-your-face Christian, so Lord knows he was all over those 'tarded kids handing 'em presents and junk.
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