Benevolence is the disposition to do good, characterized by kindness, goodwill, and a desire to promote the happiness of others.
As a little kid, I remember hearing men at church talk about benevolence. Of course, at the time, I didn’t understand the big word. I just knew they were considering giving money to someone in a tough spot. The conversation turned to the adage, “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”
Because I was only a kid, I have no idea what happened after that conversation. I assume funds were provided to meet an immediate need. As an adult now serving in a congregation, discussions about benevolence and the role of the church often return to the same adage, how to “teach a man to fish.” This brings up another question: “Should churches merely give money away? Or strategically invest it to make long-term restoration possible?”
Strategic investment lines up with that old adage. As with everything in this world, views differ on how the church should provide benevolence: meet immediate needs or solve a larger problem for an individual or group. Topics such as impact investing, faith-driven venture capital, community development finance, and restorative justice economics are hot-button items when discussing the role of the church.
Real-world examples include affordable housing, refugee businesses, prisoner reentry programs, and anti-trafficking, to name a few. The idea of what provides the best return on church dollars spent reigns in conversations. Should the church fill up a gas tank for someone needing financial assistance, or should the church have a work assistance program to help that person find a job?
The answer is more complicated. If the church doesn’t meet the immediate need, there may be no way to reach a long-term solution. However, the idea of investing funds toward lasting, impactful solutions to help build a community is what upcoming generations expect from churches. How can churches do both? How do they meet the immediate, “I need assistance today,” and still provide long-term community resource-building benevolence?
Strategic Solutions
To start, try setting up line items in your church budget, including a line item for “giving fish” and another for “teaching to fish.” Having your church budget reflect your strategic intentions does two things for the church: 1) it defines this is an important issue for the congregation and one entered mindfully; 2) it ensures you are not just “giving” without “teaching” or vice versa. Note: you will always have more needs than budget, even if 100% of the church budget were designated toward benevolence.
Next, make sure the giving and teaching work together. Guard against becoming a “soft touch” church, enabling detrimental behaviors in the individuals you help. Consider the teaching necessary to improve your community. The teaching aspect of your church’s ministry may vary widely from the one in the next community. If your area has high unemployment, how can the church offer long-term, effective assistance? If you have high drug use in your community, would an intervention or recovery program be helpful? What is the congregation passionate about? The church’s strategic benevolence in the place where the Lord has placed it is an important outreach that shows God’s love and offers both short-term and long-term hope.
Jesus spent time with fishermen and taught them the way a church is supposed to fish. Whether giving a fish or teaching someone to fish, remember that fishing for souls is our calling, and making a difference in lives is what we must do.
About the Writer: John Brummitt became CEO of Richland Ave Financial in January 2016. He graduated in 2011 with an MBA from Tennessee Tech University. A 2004 graduate of Welch College, John has served with Richland Ave Financial since spring 2006.
