Giving beyond one’s means

Sep 19

As someone who grew up in Germany and now lives in the United States, I know the time leading up to a presidential election can be very confusing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many misleading posts on social media, specifically on 𝕏. While there’s a lot to talk about, and I am already working on additional Blog Posts, this post focuses on a statement I’ve seen over and over again where 𝕏 users demand the government stop the mass immigration into the United States:

“You’re not a Christian if you don’t want immigrants in your country/the country you reside in!”

Most of us agree that we want to help and support others. We want to give them a hand to lift them if they stumble and fall, shelter so they stay warm and dry, food and water to keep them nourished and hydrated, medical care for the sick and wounded, and means of transportation.

So, does this mean we must help others beyond our means?

The short answer is “No.”

And at this point, people usually ask, “How can you be a Christian if you don’t want to help?”

So, let’s look at three passages in the Bible. Since I now live in the US, I’m referring to the Bible's King James Version (KJV), but please note that I read the Luther Bible (DELUT). Unfortunately, it does not have a 1:1 translation from German to English, but I have found that the KJV version comes very close to the DELUT version.

2 Corinthians 8:12-14 (KJV):
(12) For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. (13) For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: (14) But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

The verses 12-14 in chapter 8 of 2 Corinthians stress that generosity should not result in the giver’s hardship. Believers are not supposed to make others lives better if it would put a burden on the one who gives.

1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV)
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Verse 8 in 1 Timothy chapter 5 clarifies the importance of providing for one self and those in the believer’s household. If a believer fails to do so they would be considered as someone who has denied faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Proverbs 22:26-27 (KJV)
(26) Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
(27) If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

Verses 26 and 27 in Proverbs chapter 22, the Bible specifies that a believer should not vouch for another person as the believer can lose everything if they are unable to pay it up.

As you saw in the verses above, while the Bible encourages generosity, it emphasizes balance and wisdom in giving. Believers are encouraged to give according to what they have, not what they don’t have. They have to ensure they are not neglecting their own well-being or the needs of their family.

So, on a small scale, an individual level, it means that we should take care of ourselves and our families first but give to others as we can. When it comes to ourselves and our families, we need to understand our basic necessities and how they might vary depending on where we live.

The Core Necessities of Life

Regardless of where one resides, there are several core necessities that every human being must be able to afford to maintain their well-being and live a dignified life. These basic needs include the items outlined in the list below. To put them into perspective from a monetary standpoint, I also added average values for one person in the US and Germany, reflecting the country I live in and the country I was born and raised in.

This picture contains a table showing the Core Necessities of a person and the average monthly cost in US Dollar per person in the USA and Germany.

The list above includes core necessities, leading to a total cost of $3,450 in the US and $2,307 on average in Germany. With an average monthly income after taxes of $4,500 in the US and $2,900 in Germany, the cost for core necessities doesn’t give much wiggle room.

Additionally, the list does not account for the fact that, e.g., non-GMO food is more expensive than GMO and non-organic food, property taxes, home insurance, private retirement savings, daycare, and other items that might not be a core necessity for the average person but a necessity for many of us. In the US, the average daycare cost is $1,000, which only leaves a budget of $50. In Germany, the average cost for daycare is $535, leaving a budget of $58 for something like retirement savings.

With so little, if anything, left, how do we take care of others?

When it comes to others, one could say that we take care of others partially by paying taxes, as, for example, property taxes pay for the local school system, and it doesn’t matter if the house owner has kids or not, while federal income taxes provide for national programs, such as veterans and foreign affairs or social programs.

Some might consider having insurance, such as car insurance as a means to support others as the insured might never make a claim but is partially paying for others so that the insurance company can fulfill their claim.

Another way to support others is by donating to non-profit organizations, either directly or indirectly, for example, by donating bottles, cans, and jugs at a designated location within their town’s recycling facility. The town then redeems the deposits, and the proceeds will benefit town-based not-for-profit or non-profit organizations.

Lastly, one can support others by volunteering time, offering emotional support, or simply being there for them.

Now that we have covered the individual level, what does this look like on a large scale, the governmental level? Find out in “Giving beyond one’s means Part II”.

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