Oath For Service

Inspired by Robert D. Lupton’s Oath for Compassionate Service

from his book Toxic Charity

• Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

• Never do for the poor what they have (or could have) the capacity to do for themselves.

• Limit one-way giving to emergency situations.

• Strive to empower the poor through employment, lending, and investing, using grants/gifts sparingly to reinforce achievements.

• Put the needs of those you are serving above your own self-interest.

  • Focus on serving in ways that actually help those in need, rather than how you feel about it.

  • Phil 2:2-4 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but everyone for those of others. (NAB)

• Listen intently to those you seek to help, especially to what is not being said – unspoken feelings may contain essential clues to effective service.

• Above all, do no harm.