Google.org/Purpose for Prosperity

I use google.com… not to familiar with everything the company does but today I came across Google.org, their philanthropic arm.

Larry Brilliant (love the name), the Executive Director explains in a recent Fast Company article “We have $90 million in a foundational structure, but the majority of the value of the 3 million shares of Google stock and 1% of profits – which turns out to be $2 billion – is not restricted. We also have the resources of talented and socially engaged Googlers. That’s our greatest asset”

I applaud the company for this initiative. I think that is awesome that they are focusing not just on profits but on improving lives for others (I know, this could be met with some cynicism but how many companies have you heard that even are attempting this?)

At various times I will have discussions/debates with others regarding the doctrine of Biblical prosperity – something that I am in favor of WHEN it leads us down this path. In North America we as Christians have an unprecedented opportunity to make money (in ways that many of our brothers and sisters around the world do not). There are so many ways to generate funds to help others, share the good news of Jesus Christ, fund developments and projects.

What do we do though? We argue about it… and attack each other over it…  spend a ton of time debating whether we should even have it or on the other extreme we preach a prosperity that is self-centred and ‘my stuff’ focused… rather than Kingdom/helping the needy focused.

My heart is that we will come to a place where we work with God to create wealth to advance his Kingdom, help our brothers and sisters, heal the broken and hurting… and leave out the debating/attacking each other and the self-centred approach.

The ‘church’ should be on the cutting edge of this stuff.