Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Speech by Alex Magerko
Maimonides, Wealth, and Giving
Your Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah, Reverend Fathers, Honorable Judges, Fellow Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning:
As you may have heard, this past February, the unemployment rate surged to 8.1% and it is quickly on the rise. If our economy continues to worsen, many will become impoverished, and for everyone else, it will become harder to assist the growing number of needy, particularly when our own monetary status is uncertain. However limited our savings may become though; we still need to donate as much as we are capable. Why? Because it is by giving in the most spiritual way, that we learn to part with our possessions and focus more upon God. “Then,” as St. John Chrysostom says, “if we cut off this passion, we shall destroy the other limbs of evil as well… and nothing will prevent us from dwelling on earth as it is in heaven” (Coniaris 80).
The process of giving is not an easy one. According to the Jewish philosopher and Torah scholar, Maimonides, there are eight distinct levels of charity. Let us evaluate our motivation for giving and how we can progress to the highest form. As my trumpet teacher always repeats, “It is not where we are at any one moment, but in what direction we are headed.” The first level of charity starts with giving begrudgingly. The second stage is giving less than you should, but doing so cheerfully. Does either one of these describe us yet? Giving because one is asked to, and giving before one is asked to, constitute the third and fourth levels of charity. One example of these is the societal standard that the wealthy are greedy if they do not give to the poor. (Quote) “All will bear you ill-will as they see your body decked out, but your soul neglected.” (71) St. John Chrysostom. My favorite example of such a moral obligation is the responsibility of a parent. They are the rich ones in the family and are thus responsible for taking care of the poor – otherwise known as children. It does not seem possible that a parent could deny their children money, food, or shelter and likewise, it should not seem possible to deny the poor those things which help them be successful in their lives, since we are all members in God’s family. The fifth through seventh levels of giving are best defined by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 6:3-4 “…when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”
According to Maimonides, all seven of these stages lead to the most beneficial and significant form of giving, where one is enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. Such was the case when I was able to participate in a program called “Operation Christmas” through my Boy Scout troop. The aim of the program was to help a local family in need. This family consists of three children and the grandmother who takes care of them. To give you an idea of their situation, the grandmother drives a bus for the school district, did not have her own car, and was not even expecting to provide a traditional Christmas celebration for these children at all. Through this program, however, each Boy Scout helped to contribute something that would make this Christmas very special for the family. The Scouts provided everything from a Christmas feast to festive decorations and gifts. The final contribution though, was a car for the grandmother so that she could continue working for her family and for herself. Even though, at this stage, the giver is not normally recognized for his time, talent, or treasure, it will be the most rewarding because he knows that he has positively affected someone long-term. Giving, in this highest of forms, puts money and wealth in perspective by helping us see how much good it can do for others. St. John Chrysostom writes, “...those who are satisfied with what they have, and pleased with their own possessions… even if they are the poorest of all, should be considered the richest of all” (Chrysostom 40).
No matter where our starting point is today, the eight stages of charity, according to Maimonides, will help guide us away from our desires for possessions and toward a life focused upon God. With this in mind, continual alms giving to the poor, in good times and difficult times, will allow us to live our lives on earth as it is in heaven.
Thank you.