Shawn Casselberry's Blog
What We Do For Nothing / 02.10.10, 12:22 PM
The greatest acts of love are typically the things we do for nothing. We would do anything for the ones we love. We do not get paid to love our families or care for our own children (you get tax breaks for having children whether or not you care for them). We do it because love compels us. We also do things because it’s the right thing. We’ve all heard of stories where strangers will jump in front of a train to protect someone from danger. They don’t do it for the fame or reward, but because it is right.
It is an incredible blessing to get paid for doing what you love, but our society does not always put great value on things that really matter. Most of the jobs in our urban communities are done because someone has a sense of calling or compassion. If you saw the salaries for urban ministers, social workers, or educators you’d know that they don’t do it for the pay check. And you can really tell a difference between those that do work for a pay check and those that do it because they love it.
One grass-roots organization where I volunteer has no hired staff. The administration, tutoring, musical instruction, and financial accounting are all completely volunteer. One of our Mission Year partner organizations is Breakthrough Urban Ministries. They are a transitional facility for people struggling with homelessness, drug addiction, prostitution, and unemployment. They have told us many times that they would literally not be able to run their women and men’s programs without Mission Year volunteers. In Chicago, I see many people working with at-risk youth, empowering the homeless, and running after-school programs for little or no pay. Not because they couldn’t use the money, but because they see great value in people and it needs to be done whether they get paid for it or not.
When I would recruit for Mission Year at colleges I could always tell the inner struggle young adults had with giving up a year of their life to serve in the city. On the one hand, many Christian young adults are driven by compassion and a holy sense of calling to serve sacrificially for others (their Christian side). At the same time, they feel a strong pull to seek financial security from the various voices in our culture (their American side). It is especially hard for those considering doing volunteer work in a troubled economy. Yet, now more than ever, people are needed. Many social service organizations have had to close down or cut staff and programs to stay afloat. We need people who will respond to God’s call of compassion over the call for comfort and money.
Money is such a strong motivator in our society. Often when it comes down to living for money or for others, money trumps all. We want to be compassionate and sacrificial, but we also want to get paid. When we are able to do what’s right for nothing in return, we show that money is not our idol and not our master. Scripture is clear, you can’t serve God and money.
This doesn’t mean we never get money for what we do for God. In our society, you can find jobs that involve helping people and getting paid. Oftentimes, Mission Year team members get offered jobs at the places where they volunteered during their year of service. These organizations figure that the best people to hire are those that would be doing it even if they weren’t paid. Others return home and find ways to continue serving God in similar organizations.
But, I am seeing a new trend out there that kind of scares me. Everyone is offering incentives for people to do good. Not only that, the incentives appeal directly to our self-interest. The result is, nothing we do for others is solely done for others. For example, many schools require community service hours in order to graduate. So, you don’t really know if they are there because they choose to be there or if they are there simply to meet the requirements. Corporations like Apple and GAP get us to buy Ipods and Red T-shirts because they donate a couple bucks to a cause. Why can’t we just not buy the Ipod and send it all to Africa? See, I’m afraid we will not be able to do what is right and good if there’s nothing in it for us. One of our Mission Year church partners showed concern when I told him about the Eastern Masters program that Mission Year people can apply for after Mission Year. He was afraid people would start doing Mission Year for what they can get out of it rather than for purely altruistic reasons.
I’m afraid we will never fully understand love, God’s agape love, if we are always looking for what we get in return.
I am starting to think that what we do for nothing really has the greatest value.
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Excellent thought Shawn. I just saw a commercial on T.V. the other day where Walt Disney Parks will give you a free ticket to one of their parks if they volunteer one day of service with an organization. It made me really sad that America is coming to bribing people with free part tickets just to get people to volunteer. It’s great that they are, but it’s sad if they do it for the wrong reason.
By Tiffany Shaver / Feb 10, 06:41 PM / #
Your blog reminded me of an episode of Friends (season 5, episode 4) where Joey and Phoebe have an argument about whether there is a completely selfless act.
But truly, I serve/give most generously when the motivation is from an internal love or passion for people, not my expectation of their response or the fringe benefits. I think it’s a shame that all the incentives tacked on these days muddy the waters of motive. Not only do we have to examine our motives for the roots of pride, peer approval, and self righteousness, but now we have to consider greed and materialism as well!
By Clare Ferguson / Feb 10, 11:38 PM / #