The perfect organization

Recently, I read the story of the woman who annointed Jesus’ feet with perfume and dried them with her hair at a dinner party. (John 12)  In the middle of imagining what a socially awkward moment that must have been, I noticed something that I have missed in the many other times I have read this story.  Check it out:

 4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.  John 12:4-6

Jesus hired a thief.  Of the 12 men Jesus chose to represent him and run his organization, one of them was a thief.   Now you may say (correctly) that Jesus knew what Judas was up to, and needed him there to fulfill prophecy and betray him…but the fact remains that if you gave money to Jesus’ organization, some of it was going to wind up in Judas’ robe pockets.  (Ok, I’m not 100% sure that they had pockets back then, but otherwise I don’t even want to think where he put his wallet.)

 Nothing makes me angrier than when churches, charities, and other organizations waste or misuse money that is given to them to help others.  I often hear stories from people who are now hesitant to donate, because of waste a fraud they have seen in other organizations.  I want to make sure that no one EVER steals or wastes money that generous people have given to actionchurch! 

Here’s what struck me though, as I read those verses.  There is no “Perfect” organization.  Jesus Christ himself wasn’t surrounded by a perfect organization. There was waste and fraud going on at “Disciples Inc.”   As a church we’re going to try to be wise in what charitable organizations we partner with.  We’ll do our best to investigate and make sure that money and resources we give is used properly.  I think you should do the same in your finances.  I think you should ask questions and check out any organization (including actionchurch) that you trust with your resources.

I don’t think any of us should use the excuse that we don’t serve and give to others because we can’t find the “perfect” organization.   If the one perfect man who ever walked the earth wasn’t surrounded by the perfect organization…it probably isn’t going to exist.

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