Business Or Broke

My time here has been an incredible experience thus far. One of the main reasons I chose to leave my beloved Montana for the summer was to try and figure out what I’m going to do with my life. Although I began a career in business administration, making lots of money was never my goal. It was really more just to leave my options open more than anything… although I’ve never thought making lots of money would be such a bad thing. However, after my four months in Costa Rica and Nicaragua last year, my eyes were truly opened to another side of the world, that other three billion people that seem to make it (or often don’t) on just a few bucks a day. And not only did I become aware of the poverty that was out there, but the fact that there were entirely new cultures, ways of thinking about life, and ways of relating to others.
As the last year has progressed I have absolutely loved learning more about development, microfinance, poverty, Spanish, and the ridiculous consumer habits that most of us participate in. I chose to add International Development as a minor, a choice that has left me hungry to learn more about how we are going to save the world. Just kidding (we might not be able to save the world)…… but seriously. My involvement in microfinance this last year has also brought a lot of contemplative thought to the table for me. The greatest question I have been confronted with this year as I choose the direction I will head after college is, “Do I go the route of non-profits, grass roots organizations, getting to work directly in the development field? Or should I use my business acumen to take advantage of the opportunities in the U.S., global markets, and hungry capitalism that often does damage to those without a voice, then use those profits to work for the oppressed and marginalized?” Now, this is a bit of a simplified version of my thoughts, but it gives the basic idea. Each route seems to have so many ups and downs.

As I think about working directly in a grass-roots organization, the thought of noble work and the gratification that comes from working directly with the poor or such objectives is very appealing. While not completely altruistic, I think that we all have that inherent desire to love others, see their lives bettered, and we get a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that we have done something for someone else. Reason number two, Papa Dios tells us to do it.

"Then the King shall answer them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done unto me."
- Mathew 25:40

Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
- Is. 58:66

Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
- Proverbs 31:8

Jesus was constantly calling his followers to give up their family, politics of the state, riches, and called them to love the widows, the oppressed, the orphans, oppressed, and marginalized. He flipped everything upside down. On another note, one of my professors said something that really impacted me this last year regarding how we choose to serve out call and duty to the poor whether as Christians or just fellow human beings. He said something like, “Don’t just give some of your money to help out the worlds needs, give your time, talents, and the very best gifts that you possess”. Very true, thanks Rob.

But I sometimes wonder if to neglect the opportunities around me in the business world would be a wasted opportunity for the poor. When I say that, I mean that we (the educated in developing countries, in my case the business realm) have the ability to make more money, establish critical connections/relationships, and influence businesses and corporations than probably 99% of the world will ever have. Using ones influence in these realms (corporate world etcetera) can have trickle down effects that will impact the thousands and millions that are daily effected by international trade policies, corporate policies, government politics, etcetera. I wonder if we would be better leveraging our personal impact from working within this realm. Another brilliant professor, whom I admire greatly and who has impacted thousands around the globe, shared a bit about his philosophy with me.

“While this doesn’t run that popular in Christian circles, I wanted to become a lawyer (and a very good one at that) so that I could just make tons of money, bundles and bundles of money. But not so that I could go and buy nice things with it, for I know that the houses, cars, and vacations aren’t going to satisfy our longing to be like Jesus, but so that it could be used to bless people.”

And bless people it has done. Check out this link below to see the organization that he started (and where he now invests most of his time).

Restore International

Money and business/law expertise that is acquired in the marketplace, from disgustingly wealthy building mega-contractors (that mess up), is used to free young girls from the horrors of sexual slavery and to bring justice to the oppressed and neglected in the jails of Uganda. Contacts made in the professional world now support this cause through Funding the Kingdom, a group of real-estate professionals that use their involvement in the market to give a part of their commissions to such causes. Suddenly, you have entered into a realm where business communities are using their access to the worlds richest to touch the poorest, narrowing the incredible disparity that plagues our world today. That is cool. These are just a few of the accomplishments of this professor, not to mention his involvement with young life in B.C. Canada and many other fascinating ventures. He continuously uses creative skills, resources, and business mind to just make cool stuff happen, while touching peoples lives along the way (just hanging out w/ them like Jesus, not imposing a religious belief). He’d probably be upset with me for writing this, but I can’t help but brag about really cool people sometimes.

Hmmmm, so should I pursue the route of hero Peter Greer (Hope Intl. prez and just great guy) or Bob Goff? I don’t know, and to be honest I hope I don’t ever really have to make that decision. I’m not too worried about it. If my time down here in the Dominican has taught me something very important it has been the understanding of another world. A world that keeps loving one another because they don’t have things to love, a world of people struggling to survive, and a world that can not remain neglected any longer. What ever I end up doing in life I know that I won’t be able to ignore this part of globe that has touched me so profoundly. Whether it’s working with a non-profit microfinance organization, as a real-estate developer, a lawyer, an officer in a renewable energy-source company, or the manager of the local food distribution center, these people will constantly be a part of what I do and work for, in some way or another.