There’s a new show out called “Secret Millionaire.” I watched it on Hulu and enjoyed it … with one reservation, but we’ll get to that. The premise for this reality show is that a millionaire who is not famous goes into some American city and scopes out the opportunity for volunteering. The producers must line this up in advance. While there, they dress to blend in and live in some little place in the neighborhood. They go to various non profit organizations and volunteer for a day and at the end of the week, they give out $100,000 or so of their own money. Apparently, they set their own priorities of which group will get what, based on which gives the most bang for the buck.
The part of the show that I love is seeing humble, invisible people giving their lives in the service of others. In the premier, we met twin sisters who run a soup kitchen but serve up fantastic home-cooked meals. Another group collects unused and unneeded musical instruments, and trains under-privileged kids to play them. Several of their students were going on to musical careers and had hope and promise of a bright future. Another group decorates bedrooms for dangerously ill children. The second show showed us a neighborhood patrol, a second chance for high school drop outs that rebuilds inner city Detroit, and a dialysis patient who organizes rides for other dialysis patients. He said that often patients have to wait hours before someone can pick them up from the center.
The fun of the show is deciding how much I would give to each of those organization and which one has the most impact. The cool thing is that when the millionaire gives them his personal checks and states the amount, they almost invariably say, “You have no idea how many people we can help with this money,” or “Now we can do such and such for so and so.”
I also note the effect it has on me. It turns my thoughts to how I can help.I find that I identify more with those volunteers in the community that were doing what they do before the cameras got there.(Maybe because I’m not a millionaire) I want to reach out and make a difference. Can it be that network TV has come up with a show that inspires viewers to be more like Jesus? Can it be that there is truly no underlying diabolical motive for airing this show? Next week I’m going to pay more attention to who the advertisers are and see who benefits financially from this show.
My only reservation about this show is the charge Jesus gave against doing “alms before men.” He said public givers who sound a trumpet, (or roll a camera) have their reward. But then again, when I’m a better person for having watched the show, does the good outweigh the drawback of publicity? Is there a time and place for publicity in alms-giving? Is it appropriately handled in this instance? I’ll be interested to see what you all (that’s ya’ll to us Southerners) think on this subject. If you can, watch Secret Millionaire on Hulu http://www.hulu.com/watch/223330/secret-millionair
5 Comments
Even though we are supposed to do our alms in secret, there is sometimes benefit in having them revealed. In the case of this show, the people who are running these charitable organization were doing there alms "in secret" until the show found them. Maybe the blessings the millionaires receive will be reduced by the public giving, but maybe it's just a different kind of good they're doing by inspiring others. Hopefully they, too, will be motivated to continue volunteering and donating privately. All in all, I think it's a great show with a huge potential to do good.
(I didn't take the time to watch the clip, but here's what I think about the idea) I like the idea of going out at seeing how the money is being used, and helping others in person too. it's one thing to write a check, but another to experience it. I think it is a great experience for the millionaires to see how less fortunate people live and how they can help. I think this is a better show than a lot of shows out there, and inspirational. I don't think they are doing it for their own glory (though I didn't watch the show, maybe their actions don't match?)
In the first show they made it clear that she had been very poor herself and had gotten rich by the blessing of God. The second fellow said he had made his money in real estate. I got the feeling that they would have done what they did secretly too. It will be interesting to see how future shows go.
In the first show they made it clear that she had been very poor herself and had gotten rich by the blessing of God. The second fellow said he had made his money in real estate. I got the feeling that they would have done what they did secretly too. It will be interesting to see how future shows go.
I think anything that inspires others to give and serve is great. Only the Lord knows our true hearts and motives and will reward us justly. I think the church and a lot of good people out there do both kinds of giving. Hopefully, all of us will step up a little more as we learn new ways we can help.