“Giving” to Make a Difference
For years now at the end of each workday, thirty-six years in fact, my husband has the same habit once he returns home in the late afternoon. He empties the change from his pockets and places the coins into a bowl. (on a side note: Years ago, he placed all the coins on the counter and then I would move those coins each evening or the next morning, placing them into a container. Finally, I became smarter and purchased a container that sits—ready to receive the coins, saving me this extra step.)
Coins.
Tons of Coins.
What shall we do with all those coins?
Years ago, I would stop by the bank and retrieve coin wrappers. Then, on a free day, I would spend my time separating, stacking, and wrapping the coins. (on a side note: Years ago, the bank placed a coin counter in their lobby, and now I only need to carry the coins to the bank, pour them into the coin counter, and patiently wait for the machine to count the coins for me. Finally, I became smarter and waited for the coin counter to spit out a receipt detailing the total amount of cash to claim.)
Coins turned to Cash.
Not Thousands but sometimes a hundred, plus, and sometimes less.
What shall we do with our “win-fall” of cash?
Years ago, once the loose change became paper cash, I went Christmas shopping, using the money to help purchase gifts for nieces and nephews. That was a great use of the funds. Then, one day, a girl named Lottie Moon entered my life, even though she died many years ago after serving as a foreign missionary.
- The Lottie Moon Christmas offering became a new home for my husband’s hard-earned coins turned to cash.
- The Lottie Moon Christmas offering, given to support foreign missionaries, became a teaching for my young daughter as we carried our bags of coins to the bank’s lobby.
- The Lottie Moon Christmas offering became a way for those of us who live here to support those who live—there.
As I write, today is “Giving Tuesday,” a day set aside to consider what we will “Give” to the “Lottie Moon International Mission” offering.
What will we give?
How will we give?
- Will we give our coins?
- Will we give our dollars? Our fifties? Our hundreds? Our thousands?
- Will we give our time? To serve others—Right Here in our Communities?
- Will we give our time? To serve others—Even Over There in a Foreign Land?
- Will we give our testimony? To others—To those who have not received Jesus?
- Will we give of ourselves—To God—As a Living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable—To HIM?
“Therefore, brothers and sisters,
(Hebrews 10: 19-25 NASB)
since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed with pure water.
Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful;
and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,
not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people,
but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
What has God given to us? To me?
God gave the life of His Only Son—for each of us!
God gave the life of Jesus—for you & for me!
What does God expect of us?
What does God expect of me?
God expects Our Lives!
God expects My Life!
“Therefore, brothers and sisters,
(Hebrews 10: 19-21 NASB)
since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, . . .”
Let us think about what we can give today—on this day called “Giving Tuesday.”
Let us ask ourselves: What can we say or what can do to inspire others on this special day?
As we do, others will make a difference in the world.
As we do, we too will make a difference in the world.
“let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,
(Hebrews 10: 22-25 NASB)
having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed with pure water.
Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful;
and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,
not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people,
but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
- We do not need to know all the details of how everything will come to fruition BEFORE we say “yes” to give to others.
- We do not need to know all the details of how everything will work out BEFORE we say “yes” to do God’s will.
- We do not need to know all the details of how everything will come to be; we only need to say “yes” to what God has invited us to do.
God will empower us to complete the task He has given us to do.
GOD WILL!
The apostle Paul reminded us through his writing to the church at Corinth to rely upon the Holy Spirit of God in all that we do, in all that we say, & in all that we give.
- May we see with the eyes of Jesus as we go throughout this day.
- May we have a “missionary heart” today—on this Giving Tuesday.
Then, tomorrow, may we start anew, to live more and more—like Jesus Christ, our Savior.
“so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.”
(1 Corinthians 2: 5 NASB)