This Tuesday past is a new holiday of sorts. “‘ Giving Tuesday’, a global day dedicated to giving back.” The common purpose? “To celebrate generosity and to give.” (The nationaldaycalendar.com)
With the past weekend of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals compelling us to consumerism, Giving Tuesday is a welcome, heart-warming holiday.
While it’s great to dedicate thoughts and actions toward celebrating generosity and giving to others, as Christians, should that giving attitude not be a way of life?
How convicting to read Psalm 107:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever.” (NIV)
Psalms 118:1 and 136:1 echo those instructions and praise.
Giving to other people and causes reflects Christ’s attitude and love.
Giving God our sincere words of praise with a heart full of gratitude also celebrates generosity.
His generosity.
While reflecting on His generosity this past Tuesday, or even most Sundays in church, I am reminded I am called to live a life of thankfulness and a life of giving.
What does that even look like?
Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (NIV)
To act justly is to care for those with less. ( I John 3:17 NIV)
To love mercy is to have the heart of Christ (Ephesians 3:17 NLT)
To walk humbly with God requires us to submit to him. (James 4:7 NIV)
When we live putting Micah 6:8 into practice we are living a life of giving.
Giving of ourselves.
Giving gratitude to God.
And, generously paying our personal blessing forward.
Like Christ, whose life exemplified living a life of giving.