Radical Generosity

In Mark 10, we find the story of a wealthy young man who comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. The young man explains that he has kept the commandments from his youth, but Jesus knows there is one thing with which he needs to part. Jesus tells him, “sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me” (v. 21). This seems like an incredibly difficult task in American society today. Certainly there are so many things (not bad things, just things) that we buy to enjoy and make ourselves more productive. Success is seen as gaining more things not losing them. That is way a BBC article this week caught my eye. Here’s an excerpt:
“Thirty-eight US billionaires have pledged at least 50% of their wealth to charity through a campaign started by investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
They include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, CNN founder Ted Turner and entertainment executive Barry Diller.
The campaign was started in June to convince US billionaires to give away at least half of their fortunes either during their lifetimes or after their deaths.
‘We've really just started but already we've had a terrific response,’ Mr Buffett said in a statement.
He added: ‘The Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used.’
Those who pledge their money to "philanthropic causes and charitable organisations" must publicly state their intention through a letter of explanation.
Other billionaires who have pledged large sums of their money include film producer George Lucas, philanthropist David Rockefeller and oil investor T Boone Pickens.
‘I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education. It is the key to the survival of the human race,’ Mr Lucas wrote in his Giving Pledge letter.
‘I've long stated that I enjoy making money, and I enjoy giving it away’
said T Boone Pickens, Oil investor.
The organisation says many of the donors have committed to donating sums far greater than the 50% minimum level.
‘While the Giving Pledge is specifically focused on billionaires, the idea takes its inspiration from efforts in the past and at present that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds,’ says Givingpledge.org.
Mr Buffet along with Mr Gates and his wife, Melinda, held numerous dinners with US billionaires in the past year to promote the campaign and urge America's financial elite to pledge.
‘I've long stated that I enjoy making money, and I enjoy giving it away. I like making money more, but giving it away is a close second,’ Mr Pickens wrote in a letter on Givingpledge.org.
Mr Buffet, the chief executive of the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, pledged 99% of his money to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and family charities in 2006.
Forbes Magazine estimated Mr Buffet's wealth at $47bn (£29bn) in March.
Bill Gates, who Forbes rates as the world's second wealthiest person, has also given away more than $28bn to his foundation.
There are 403 billionaires living in the US, according to Forbes.”- British Broadcasting Company, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10870361

While these billionaires (not all Christians, by the way) may not be giving away their entire fortunes, they are giving away more than most. Granted, they will still have more left over than many of us will ever posses, but the point is that they are taking a radical step to help others. Jesus calls for radical discipleship. He desires followers who will forsake everything (possessions, fame, fun, status) for Him. In light of the radical generosity of these wealthy families, I invite you to ask yourself, “What radical thing have I done lately?”