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How Do You Meet the Need?

You can’t check out anywhere without being ask if you would like to give to some cause or organization.  And it that’s not enough, the minute you walk out of the exit doors there are groups of kids selling fundraiser items or having a hat drop.  There is no shortage of opportunities to be benevolent.

Benevolence is a core principle of the believer’s life and a very emotional one.  We want to help, but benevolence is a virtue that needs to find it’s way onto your budget and it’s one that need some intentional thinking.

So how do we as a Ranger family help those in our Outpost that are having financial struggles.  Who do you say yes to?

Unify the Message

Because of the limitless places to give we decided long ago to become very intentional in our family’s benevolence.  The beauty of this approach is that it gave us the freedom and confidence to say no.  We weren’t saying no to the March of Dimes, we were saying yes to where are family felt most led to give.

The senior leadership of any Outpost needs to have a plan when it comes to giving and messaging that can be used anytime Commanders are confronted with a need.  For example, “Thank you for sharing your need.  Here at OP### we are very concerned for all our family’s needs.  Let’s meet with Senior Commander ### and share you needs with him.”  We have to be good steward and to do that we need time to make a great decision.

Start a Benevolence fund?

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

What’s important to notice here is that compassion is the underlying theme here, and compassion is an action verb.  We are encouraged here to move our feet, and extend our hands, not just write a check.  Now, I know, it takes money to buy clothes, food, and shelter, but it takes compassion to meet the need.

Never Over Promise and Under Deliver

This really goes back to the overall Outpost strategy but is so important to drive this point home.  Be very careful not to lead with your emotions.  Behind every set of eyes is a story and its only in the middle of the story can you really meet the need.

Don’t Let Money Keep You From…

This has been a response for many when faced with an immediate need.  But, this would never work in you own home.  When your son or daughter has a real, heartfelt need your response isn’t. “don’t worry, we’re not going to let money keep us from…”.  We must make decisions, and many of them our tough.

Never pay 100%

Many a scholarship fund falls into the need/merit based decision category.  Need without merit will degrade a benevolent fund into a charity without direction.