W.W.O.D? (What Would Oprah Do?)

I recently read someone else’s blog that was extolling the virtues of Oprah’s giving heart. The first two things that came to mind as I read were the verses in Mark 12 and Matthew 6.

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. ~ Mark 12:41-44

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. ~ Matthew 6:1

Oprah is worth 1.1 billion dollars. She is giving out of her excess not from her from her want. If a man from the Bronx sold his house and car to do something like this then he would be doing an extra-ordinary terrific thing before God. I am sure that any giving she has done did not put a niche in her wallet and more than likely she got the tax credit for it also. From a secular human standpoint she did a great thing even if it was for P.R. sake. From a Christian/religious perspective what she did earns her no kudos. (Yes, I understand she is not calling herself a follower of Christ.)

I wonder if Oprah does any ‘secret’ giving done completely anonymously. That would be a greater virtue to extol. It is sad though when folks desire the attention and kudos from other humans rather than from their Creator.

And in regard to them the prophecy of Isaiah is receiving signal fulfilment: `You will hear and hear and by no means understand, and you will look and look and by no means see. For this people's mind is stupefied, their hearing has become dull, and their eyes they have closed; to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears, or understanding with their minds, and turning back, so that I might heal them. "But as for you, blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For I solemnly tell you that many Prophets and holy men have longed to see the sights. ~ Matthew 13:14-17

I suppose if all the money in the world will not buy her spiritual understanding then she should at least spend it on doing something that will earn her secular human respect and admiration… oh, and some good P.R. also.

I would that God were laughing at me, yet I fear He is crying. God does not care about all our religious efforts especially when it is us humans getting the praise and glory instead of him.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ~ Acts 17:30-31