Doing Good

My friend Shawn Wood is sponsoring a very cool initiative he's calling 5 Days in May which got me to thinking about doing good. I think there are three levels of good doing:

Level One: The do gooder

These are people who see something like 5 Days in May and think, "I have to do something about this." They sign up to drink nothing but water for 5 days and give the money they save to Water Missions International. They are the people who hear an appeal to help tsunami victims and toss a $10 in the collection plate. Sometimes they will sign up to sponsor a child in Africa. Do gooders are a very necessary part of the good doing process.

Level Two: The game changer

When Shawn heard that one in six people don't have access to clean water he thought, "I have to do something about this." He could have mailed a check to Water Missions (do gooder), or he could try to start a movement that raises awareness and spurs hundreds or thousands of people to action (A game changer). A few years ago when my wife visited Christ's Gift Academy, a school for AIDS orphans in a small fishing village on the shore of Lake Victoria, she thought, "I have to do something about this." She could have sponsored a child (she now sponsors three children), or led a team of teachers on a mission trip to the school (which she has done several times). But that wasn't enough. Sherry organized a new board for the school, revamped their fund raising process and continues to lead the American operation. She is definitely a game changer. (And a darn good looking one as well)

Level Three: The world shaker

My friend Joe had no intention of moving to Africa when a buddy talked him into taking a trip to Christ's Gift Academy, but after his first visit he thought, "I have to do something about this." When he returned he spent several weeks in prayer, consulted with trusted friends and sought pastoral guidance on what he should do. Then he quit his dream job as a Division 1 basketball coach, sold everything he owned and moved to Africa. Joe still doesn't see himself as a traditional missionary, he's just a guy who had to make a difference. Joe is a world shaker.

What are you? Are you a do gooder? It seems like if we take up space on earth we should at least be a do gooder. Are you a game changer? Where could you made a significant contribution that would change the status of good in the world? Or are you that rare individual who is a world shaker? One of my favorite scriptures is in Acts 17; "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also." I hope before I die someone will say that about me. I want to shake the world. How about you?

Comments

[Steven Furtick]

This is a great post Geoff. I'm gonna rip this off. You got me thinkin dude...thinkin thinkin thinkin. You're a smart brother. Love ya much.

[karin]

Giving someone a glass of cold water in the Name of Jesus may be just a good deed - but it can have rippling effects that I cannot begin to fathom. Only God knows whether my good deed will change a game and even effect a shaking of the world. Thanks for stimulating thoughts!

[CaroleTurner]

Preach that brother! I want to be a world changer!