Charles (Chuck) Feeney has given away billions. I suspect Mr. Feeney was wealthier than the very rich man who came to Jesus searching for eternal life. Feeney did what the rich man refused to do when challenged by Jesus.
As I write, Charles Feeney is closing in on 90 and reportedly in declining health. He has shunned fame and cherished obscurity over the decades. Over the last forty years, he has quietly given away $8 billion. Secretly is perhaps a more accurate word. For decades, his goal was to give all his money away before he died. In September 2020, he achieved that goal, and his foundation was officially closed and shuttered.
He made his philanthropic donations anonymously whenever possible. He never wanted his name to be blazed about. No hand-shaking photographs with him holding an oversized cheque to aid a hospital or university. No plaques on walls or buildings named in his honour. In fact, benefactors like hospitals and universities were not allowed to reveal the source of their massive gifts. We only know about his substantial financial gifts because Forbes magazine and The New York Times uncovered his incredible generosity.
With a desire to help the Vietnamese after the war, he invested $382 million in helping to improve Vietnam’s public health and education systems. When Northern Ireland was torn apart by sectarian violence, Feeney contributed over half a billion dollars to improve relations, encourage peace and promote education. He donated over $400 million to help heal the wounds of Apartheid in South Africa. His foundation generously supported racial and social equity causes as well as health research.
The very rich young ruler who kicked up the dust running down the road to meet Jesus in his search for eternal life was unwilling to part with his wealth to follow Jesus. Mr. Feeney, on the other hand, was willing to part with all his wealth but has never expressed an interest, at least publicly, in obtaining eternal life.
Although Mr. Feeney and the rich young ruler have successful endeavours and riches in common, the rich young ruler had, at least, a concern about life after death. The Bible records that he ran down the road in pursuit of Jesus to ask Him how to obtain eternal life. As Jesus was starting out on His way to Jerusalem, a man “came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).
A man of wealth and privilege is rarely portrayed as anxiously running. But for some reason, this young man had eternal life on his mind. His interest in it was sufficient to justify becoming a public spectacle. He grabbed his long robe and ran to meet Jesus.
As the Lord Jesus skillfully tested his sincerity and motives, the wealthy young man made the most consequential decision of his entire lifetime. His wealth and lifestyle were more important to him than becoming a follower of Christ and a possessor of eternal life. There was nothing flippant about his choice. He gave it solemn thought.
As he weighed it up, the Lord Jesus looked at him, and the Bible records that Jesus “loved him” (Mark 10:21). But that love was not reciprocated. The young man’s heart was wrapped-up with his riches. He loved them. They had first place in his life. The cost was too great to give Christ that place. “He was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).
After studying the stories and news articles written about Mr. Feeney over the years, we can find no indication of any desire on his part to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
...the tragedy of dying without Christ is a poverty of another magnitude – it is the incomprehensible loss of losing one’s soul
Feeney obviously discovered that he could not take his wealth with him after death. One of his famous quotes was: “I want the last cheque I write to bounce.” In other words, he wants to die poor.
Humanly speaking, Mr. Feeney’s goal was noble, unselfish, most generous and worthy of praise. When his time comes to die, he will get his wish; he will die relatively poor. But the tragedy of dying without Christ is a poverty of another magnitude – it is the incomprehensible loss of losing one’s soul. Jesus, who knew the value of the eternal soul, asked this question: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Your life’s earnings may never come close to that of Charles Feeney, but you could die spiritually wealthy. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
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