My motives when I serve are noble. I want to do good things: help the poor, care for the sick, share God’s word. It’s all good. But, sometimes I get burned.

I get burned not by those I’m helping—they are generally appreciative and kind. I get burned because serving doesn’t always produce the results I hoped for. Often we put our needs and the needs of our Church ahead of the needs of those we are helping.

The Church wants a three-hour Saturday morning mission experience in the inner city. The Church wants a 7-day trip to Africa to build a well. I want to scoop mashed potatoes onto a plate and peer into the eyes of a hungry child and feel good about it. Face it. It’s true.

What the inner city mission really needs is tutors on Thursday nights, and the village in Africa needs a micro loan program to build sustainable business so they can build their own well, and maybe that hungry child needs a parent with a living wage. I’m not sure—but, I never took the time to find out. I just did what I thought was best.

I’m a “religious tourist.” I’m a “social worker,” not a neighbor. I like to “do things for” other people rather than “do things with” other people. I want a short-term feel-good experience and am not always interested in a long-term investment opportunity.

I have a hunch I’m not alone.

Are you with me? What are we going to do about it?

-These are reflections from Robert Lupton’s recent book Toxic Charity. Christianity Today recently shared this article about the topic.