What is Mine to Do? Part 3
May 28, 2026
What is Mine to Do? Part 3
After graduate school, we settled in our new town and became part of a small community. One day, a well-known businessman, raising funds for a local charity, visited me at my office to ask for my donation. He told me the following: “This is a worthy cause, and if you contribute to this charity, it will help pay your 'civic rent.'” In the past, I had been only a student, not a professional in the work community, so I had no idea what “civic rent” meant.
“I’ll think about it and let you know what I decide about giving to this cause,” I replied to the nice fellow. Then I pondered the words “civic rent” and his subtle warning that I owed it. For me, he communicated the idea that if we do not pay for our place in the community, we might be looked down upon or even “evicted.”
Of course, we must all do our part in any organization or community we belong to. A group is healthy and thrives by attending to those on its margins, those who are needy and in distress. Helping the collective is essential, or we risk devolving into self-centered interests alone. There is nothing inherently wrong with paying our civic rent if we acknowledge to ourselves our truest intention. But if all our charitable gifts are to cover our civic rent, we are not giving selflessly.
The problem with our charitable contributions seen as rent is somewhat troublesome to me. If charitable contributions are civic rent, that rent serves to please others whom we perceive as holding the keys to our acceptance in the group and to our social/business image. If our giving is primarily intended to strengthen our standing in the community, this turns charitable giving into self-interest.
True charitable giving can be more clearly understood from its root, the word charity. In the King James Version (KJV), "charity" translates to the Greek word agape and derives from the Latin root caritas. Used frequently by Paul to denote selflessness, God-given love, caritas, originates from the Latin carus, meaning "dear," "precious," or "high price." Therefore, if I make a truly charitable contribution, it is selfless love.
Charitable love is not an obligatory payment for our place in the world; it has nothing to do with quid pro quo. It is a willing, intentional, freely given gift that is entirely selfless. Jesus had a lot to say about giving, but this teaching in Matthew speaks directly to this issue.
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6: 1-4)
I, like you, am constantly bombarded with requests for charitable donations. And we all see needs around us that call for action. All seem worthy. But particular ones tug on our hearts. Those that touch us in a special, heartfelt way are the areas in which we will find what is ours to do.
Spiritual practice: Think about your theology of selfless giving. How would you describe this in a few lines? Share this theological insight with a trusted person. Process your feelings and further thoughts with this trusted person.
Self-inquiry: Why would you feel obligated to donate?
Prayer:
Dear God, for that heartfelt knowing, I humbly thank you. Amen
