Today is #GivingTuesday, an annual day of giving which is held each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Following a day of thanks, and two days of getting, the initiative seeks to spread love, kindness and generosity through a designated day of giving.
If there’s anyone who should be using today’s trending hashtag as a mission field, it’s Christians.
As followers of Christ, we are commanded by God to help those in need.
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Matthew 25:35-40 – For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.
John 3:17 – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
What better way to provide for the needy, care for the poor, feed the hungry or simply just love our neighbor than by leveraging the day that is designated for generosity?
Now I know, it shouldn’t take some special day to remind us to be generous. Just like it shouldn’t take Valentine’s day to remind someone how much you love them. But it’s the momentum found in a widespread joint effort that starts a chain reaction.
You can join the movement by visiting the #GivingTuesday website here for a list of resources and organizations in your area.
If you are looking for other trusted organizations here are a few recommendations. We encourage you to check out each one of them and pray for wisdom and discernment before giving.
Here are just a few, there are many others:
- North American Mission Board
- Open Doors (Serving the persecuted church)
- Save the Storks (Advocating for the unborn and caring for Orphans and Widows)
- Adopt A Love Story (Helping families overcome financial obstacles to adoption)
- Gospel for Asia (Working to help communities changed, for this life and eternity)
- World Vision (Helping children in need around the world)
- Children’s Hunger Fund (Feeding children in crisis in the US and abroad)
- Compassion International (Child sponsorship ministry)
When we give generously, we get the opportunity to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with, just as he’s commanded. May we continue to advance the Kingdom of God by spreading His gospel in all means biblically possible, in both word and deed.
