Should one who is prone to vanity work in philanthropy?

[WannabeSaint]

Should one who struggles with the sin of vanity work in philanthropy? The person really wants to help their fellow man, but there is also a risk for this person to start puffing themselves up and hanging on the praise of the public for how “great of a person he is for doing all this charity work!”

Is there a rule of thumb for something like this?

 

[1Lord1Faith]

They should, absolutely! You should encourage them to do so even though they have doubts about not having enough humility to do the job.

Philanthropy, IMO, is best done by someone with an outgoing personality who is likable and confident. Giving to charitable causes will no doubt help your friend grow in the areas they are concerned about. It sounds like an exciting friendship you have! All the best!

 

[Erikaspirit16]

I’m sure you’ve heard the cliché about the missionary who “went out to do good and did well.” I know someone who worked with food aid for a long time in a certain country. They parlayed that into a high-paying consulting job in Washington. So basically they profited from their “selflessness.” On the other hand, someone had to do the work, and they were good at it.

Leadership in general is something I’ve thought about for, oh, 50+ years. My own opinion is that ANY leader has to have a rather exaggerated ego to function as a leader. You don’t want someone who always says, “Gee, I dunno, what do you want to do, Eddie?” On the other hand, you don’t want to be someone (DJT comes to mind) who always thinks he’s the smartest person in the room.

The same with philanthropy. By the very nature of the work, you are saying “I am better (in some way–financially, physically, etc.) than you. So I’ll do you a favor and help you.” I’m sure there have been some very humble people who have “helped” other people, but I suspect they are very rare. That’s why when one appears he/she is made a saint or the subject of a biography or movie.

But in the end, their motivation is secondary. If they can help someone, let them help someone. If this makes them feel better than everyone else, that’s their problem. Maybe they’ll change, although I wouldn’t hold my breath.

 

[metanoia1]

fake it until you make it–practice makes perfect.

 

[bardegaulois]

It is impossible to reduce this to a simple, universally applicable rule. If you think, though, that philanthropic or charitable work would lead to a sense of pride, then I would suggest putting yourself under obedience to your confessor on this issue.

 

[midori]

A lot of times, when you start working in philanthropy, you see how your efforts are nice and all that, but they ultimately don’t do squat to make permanent, lasting change… what’s necessary is something bigger than you are.

In other words, a lot of people’s problems are deeper than what can be solved by mere money or generosity. There’s frequently a spiritual component to the root of their problem. And until God works in their lives at the spiritual level, all the charity in the world isn’t going to solve the problem.

But being able to be up close and learn that lesson for themselves firsthand is a positive and humbling thing.