Forbes biggest givers

This week, Forbes magazine has published its list of the worlds biggest and most generous givers, which got me interested and made me take a look. You can look at the article yourself here. They have found 19 people in the world who have given over 1 billion US dollars to charity. The biggest giver is Bill Gates, who has given $28 billion, which is over 3 times more than the next person in the list. Forbes also put the person’s net worth in there as well so you can see how much they’re giving in relation to what they’re worth. One of the guys has given about 95% of his wealth away, which is pretty incredible. He still has hundreds of thousands to live off, but it’s still very good giving. The richest man in the world, Carlos Slim Helu has given $4 billion, but with a suggested worth of around $74 billion, it’s only about 5.5%. He believes more good can be done by creating jobs than band-aided charitable giving. It was a fascinating list, but it got me thinking.

Some people think that God would be pleased with us if we were a good person. If we do enough good stuff to outweigh the bad stuff, then we will have earned God’s approval. But is it possible to earn this? What makes a ‘good person’ - surely giving to charity would be one trademark of a good person? Obviously they can’t give away as much as these 19 people, but they give. But the question is then raised, “Well does that please God?” Is there a certain amount you can give which would earn God’s favour? Is there a percentage that God requires from us? Surely James Stowers, who gave 95% away, is in God’s very good books? Is giving to charity good enough to be in a right standing with God?

Well, actually, giving 95% of our wealth away doesn’t make us right with God. The Bible is pretty clear that we can’t earn God’s favour through what we do. Being made right with God has nothing to do with what we do, but is only possible because of what Jesus has done. When Jesus came to Earth, he was on a rescue mission to save us, and to open up a way to be made right with God. In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Verse 7 doesn’t then say, or you can just be a nice person and give money away, and that is also acceptable. The only way to be made right with God is through Jesus. Believing that we are sinners, that we have done things which separate us from God, and that we can’t correct these ourselves. Jesus never sinned, and he gives us that perfect record so we can stand before God, as if we’d never sinned. Then, and only then, are we made right with God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says this, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Giving money away is not a bad thing, it is good to do, but it does not make us right with God. Only through Jesus can that be made possible.

It’s been great to remind myself of these truths, and they were backed up this morning at Church, as I was challenged to remember that I am not attractive in any way before God. All I can give is my need for forgiveness.