Created in 2012 with the simple idea of encouraging people to do good, GivingTuesday aims to help you give back to your community. It doesn’t have to include giving money, it can be all about simply putting a smile on someone’s face. They have even created a search engine to help you find ways you can help in your community by clicking here. A number of Christian charities also participate in GivingTuesday.
Why Give?
What comes on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday gives us a good reminder that Christmas isn’t and shouldn’t be about STUFF, but more about the real meaning of CHRISTmas. CHRISTians have an opportunity on a day that the world has set aside to give back to not only give back but to GIVE to others, maybe for the first time, the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
We as Christians are commanded by God to share the gospel and help those in need. GivingTuesday shouldn’t be any different than any other day for a Christian, but it does give us a good opportunity to explain why. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
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.
2 Corinthians 9:7 – Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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.
Mark 16:15 – And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Christian Charities to Consider
If you are looking for trusted organizations to give to, here are a few Christian charity 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 (Disaster relief arm of the Southern Baptist Convention)
- 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)
- Operation Christmas Child (International relief organization that spreads the Gospel)
May we never forget the most important gift we have been given is the most important gift we can share, The Gospel. May we pray continuously how the Holy Spirit can use us to show others through word and actions the everlasting gift of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
