Still models

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

It turns out that Jesus was right to use the poor widow as a model of generosity. He could still do so today.

Toward the end of his life on earth, Jesus observed a widow putting two small coins in the Temple treasury. It was maybe a penny or two's worth of wealth.

Many others - those with far more money - had given larger contributions. But, in Jesus' view, this widow had given more than all of them, because she "has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood" (Mk 12:41-44).

It seems things haven't changed much from Jesus' day. The poor still give from their want, and some of the rich only give from their surplus. That's at least the finding of a study by Empty Tomb, a Champaign, Ill., service and research group, which connects rich and poor through service projects.

Using U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, Empty Tomb found that this country's working poor - those making $10,000 to $14,999 a year - gave the largest percentage of their after-tax income to charity: 2.3% in 2004. In contrast, those making $30,000-$149,999 gave 1.4%. (Those above that income bracket gave 1.9%, which is still less than the poor. Also, in looking at age groups, those who are older, ages 65-74 - no doubt some of them widowed - give 3.6% of their incomes to charity.)

In simple dollars, the poorest income earners may only give $200-$350 dollars a year. However, with an after tax monthly income of $700-$900, that $200 comes from money that would normally go to necessities. They are giving from their want.

Why?

Empty Tomb proposes that it has something to do with religious belief. Looking at the total of money given from all donors and the recipients of their charity, Empty Tomb also found that two-thirds of everything given - $65.7 billion in 2004 - went to churches or religious organizations.

This, the report said, "provides support for the view that religion serves as the seedbed of philanthropic giving in America."

Perhaps being in a situation of need your self has something to do with hearing more clearly the Gospel message of loving others and bringing the Good News to those who need it most. It was certainly a model that the Lord himself lived out - giving everything he had so that others might live. (For more on the statistics, see www.emptytomb.org)