Nuggets of truth can come from some of the most unlikely places. Heartland is a new series on the TNT television network starring Treat Williams as the Chief of Transplant Surgery at Pittsburgh's St. Jude's Medical Center. Kari Matchett (you may have seen her as Chief of Staff to Vice President Noah Daniels on Fox's 24) plays Organ Procurement Coordinator Kate Armstrong.
In Episode 3 Kate lectures a prison inmate (who is considering giving his estranged sister part of his liver as a living donor) about the necessity that his gift be given without hope of getting anything back. Her counsel: Only give if you can give unselfishly; otherwise you'll never get back what you think you deserve.
I think we all need to hear that. This applies not only to organ donation, but to charitable giving, tithing, volunteering at church, or even the guy on the corner with the Will Work for Food sign. Proverbs 19:17 reads: Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full. (The Message) 2 Corinthians 9:7 states: Each [person] should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (NIV)
That TV quote is worth repeating: Only give if you can give unselfishly; otherwise you'll never get back what you think you deserve.
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