#WISDOMSample

Unearned Goodness

Have you ever heard the word “meritocracy”?

University of Michigan head football coach, Jim Harbaugh, calls his coaching style and team culture a “meritocracy.”

It means that if you want to be a starter, if you want to get better, if you want to win, then you have to earn it.

No one gets anything for free, and every week the players compete for their “jobs.” They have races to the cafeteria, races at practice, and the winners earn the right to do more practice work and development.

While this may be a good mentality for a sports team, it’s not a great way of viewing human life. If we only received what we deserved or earned, what would that do to things like love? Forgiveness?

This is especially true with those around us who are in desperate poverty. The impoverished world lives on less than $2 a day, and due to factors out of their control, there is no amount of “work” or “earning” that they could do to change that. In fact, living on less than $2 a day is, in and of itself, a lot of work.

Wisdom isn’t just about what makes our lives with God stronger and healthier. Wisdom realizes that we aren’t alone, and we are all engaged and dependent on each other.

Proverbs says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17)

Notice it doesn’t say whoever “gives money to the poor” – it says whoever is “kind” to the poor. The word for “kind” can also mean “merciful” or “gracious.” It’s a word that is all about giving to someone who hasn’t necessarily earned it.

To be kind to the poor is to connect with humanity in a humble and beautiful way. Kindness to the poor helps them understand that they are still part of the world. Despite their situation, they’re still human. Not only that but being kind to the poor is an act towards God. It reveals our heart, it draws us to think about others and away from our own pride and prejudices, and it becomes an act of worship.

Where can you be kind to someone who is “poor” today?