By now you are probably aware that both Barack Obama and John McCain have posted prior year personal tax returns on their respective websites for public inspection. Public officials being public about private financial matters merit some positive and public praise. But let’s be careful as we scrutinize the candidates’ charitable giving.
Yes, we see that Obama’s giving was minimal for years 2000-2004 (close to a cumulative $10,000 for these 5 years) and suddenly shot up in 2005 as he honed in on his candidacy for President. This coincides with a dramatic increase in his AGI to $1.6 million the same year; however, total charitable giving was still less than 5% of the Obamas’ AGI. In contrast, McCain’s charitable giving appears relatively stable from year to year within a range higher than 20% of his AGI. We do know that his wife Cindy inherited a fortune from her family and that her tax returns have not been made public. The Foundation they give from favors the private schools their children attended.
I don’t care to analyze the candidates and their charitable giving at length, but what are some observations we might make for Christ followers and next generation stewardship from this cursory review?
Why not start with the fact that our tax returns are not made public, but our Lord knows them. If we truly believe in an omniscient God who knows us and watches over us, then our giving is no mystery to Him. So, to whom are we accountable? It would appear that public officials publicizing their tax returns strive for accountability to the public that they serve; likewise, as a Christ follower we should strive for accountability to our Lord we serve, properly handling the resources that flow through us. A good question to ask is, “Lord, what do You want to give through me?” Not, “Lord, what do you want me to give?”
Also, our giving to the Lord’s ministry should not be done to gain favor in the eyes of other people. Political candidates especially seem sensitive to gaining favor from groups as a way to enhance their political stature. Sometimes I fear that the successful business owners within our congregations seek positions on stewardship campaign committees to gain the favor of their fellow congregants rather than truly being sacrificial. What happened to the “not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice”? I’ll never forget the time we joined a church and went to the counseling room with a couple of deacons, one a real estate agent who on the way out of the counseling room gave me his card and said to call him if we were interested in buying a house. Business owners should nail their business cards to the cross when they come to church.
Another observation is that public officials give themselves to their parties first. Undoubtedly this influences their charitable giving. Who have we given ourselves to? I like to think that we, like the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8:5, first give ourselves to the Lord and to His will. Then, out of that giving flows the freedom of passionate stewardship of what God has entrusted to us.
Do we owe an account to the public? Yes, to be the faithful stewards of the witness of how Christ has changed our lives. Public officials may deem their financial transparency adequate, but show me one who is willing to go the extra step to be accountable to the Lord. The next generation cannot afford to compartmentalize their stewardship, but to make it one of the marks of their devotion to a cause that is greater than any political party on the face of the earth.
[...] to a post by BibleTrainer, McCain’s charitable giving appears relatively stable from year to year within a range higher [...]