Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. Let me say that again: Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. That may not be what you were expecting me to say. After all, we live in a society where production is valued. It is all about what we do and how we do it. We are told that anything worth doing is worth doing WELL and I am not going to dispute that. If you can do something well, do it well. Simultaneously, we ought not to use an inability to do something well as an excuse to not do it at all.
Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Some two thousand years ago, Jesus was addressing communities that likewise valued people based on what they provided to benefit the societies in which they lived. Those who possessed wealth that could be used for the benefit of the community were viewed with greater respect, they held greater value than those who relied on the community for ongoing support. Thus, people prioritised doing what was needed to be respected by those around them. Working hard, owning property, establishing oneself as someone who mattered and contributed to the betterment of the community were common goals.
Jesus challenges these priorities. He suggests that, without fear because God provides, folks sell their possessions and share generously with those in need. He proclaims that this is the path to recognising and living in the Kingdom of God.
Faith suggests that this challenge is worth doing. In our willingness to fearlessly give up our possessions and seek the treasures of heaven, we are blessed. So, who is ready to sell everything and live, like Dorothy Day who sold everything and started the Catholic Worker movement, an organisation that has generously created space for all people in worker homes and farms and advocates for those living in poverty?
This is a BIG ask! Even the most pious among us may not quite be ready to give up on the comforts of life. We like having homes that keep us warm and safe. We like our possessions for all that they provide to us. We like the ability to provide for our own basic needs. We may cringe at Jesus’ suggestion in the same way his hearers did some two thousand years ago.
What if, instead of simply giving up and saying we don’t have the courage to sell all our possessions and trust God’s bounty we remember that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly and then we try and do it as poorly as we can?
We already know what this looks like. We have a clothing cupboard that has been put together with duct tape, donations, and the commitment of volunteers. There is nothing fancy about this ministry. We are not transforming the realities that contribute to the needs of those who come to the cupboard. We are making a difference one piece of clothing at a time. It is worth doing even if our offering is imperfect.
What does it look like to apply the same standard in our lives? To what extent can we, even if it is poorly done, contribute from the gifts that we have to making the world a better place? Are we courageous enough to choose to tithe – to give 10% of our wealth to doing God’s work, whatever that might look like? Are we courageous enough to give 10% of our time to doing God’s work? No? How close are we willing to get to that 10%? Is there something else we can do poorly that will move us that much closer to embodying the priorities that support Kingdom building? How might such efforts enable us to experience the true treasures God offers?
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. May we continually seek creative ways to live according to the challenges Jesus places before us trusting God’s gifts and knowing that where our treasure is there our heart will be also. This we pray as we sing: (VU) 509 Here I am, Lord