We know what love is from the greatest example “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16(KJV). God loved us so much, he “GAVE” himself for us to have everlasting life. The Apostle John records, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John 3:17 (KJV). In other words, if any one of us with blessings of material possessions sees a brother or sister in need, we should give of our abundance to help them, otherwise we do not have the love of God in us.
Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. For 2023 it is Tuesday November 28, 2023. This idea has been publicized as a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” Giving Tuesday was initiated in 2012 with a goal: to make giving more central in daily life.” As a wide concept, it simply encourages everyone in the world to live a life of generosity. Records of this international movement reports impact with millions of dollars given to bless and change lives.
Generosity has always been at the core of those who love God. From the beginning of time the scripture records how God’s people were generous. Even in Exodus 35 the Israelites all gave generously of their materials and time to build the tabernacle. Upon reading Exodus, you quickly realize if those who loved God had decided to withhold and not be generous with the materials they owned or the skills they had, the tabernacle wouldn’t have come together.
There are times when those who loved God did not have a lot of excess, but still gave. This guides us to understand that being generous is not just for those who have a lot. 1 Kings 17 records the prophet Elijah who was hungry during a time of famine. God told him to go to Zarephath and tell a widow to provide food for him. Elijah obeyed, but when he found her, she told him all she had was a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. She was gathering sticks to fix the last meal for both she and her son and then they would die of starvation. Yet, she chose to follow the voice of God through the prophet Elijah who told her, “For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.” I Kings 17:14 (KJV). The widow followed the call of faith to be generous and God was faithful to his promise: “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.” I Kings 17:15-16.
The Apostle Paul who told us: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (KJV). Giving Tuesday is a gentle nudge for us to remember to be generous not just during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, but all year long and at any time you see someone with a need – especially when God has given you the resources to meet the need.
There are many ministries of the United Pentecostal Church who specifically depend on the generosity during the Giving Tuesday season this year and every year. Some that come to mind we hear the most about are as follows:
- Compassion Services International – Medical Missions, Global Disaster Relief, and Humanitarian Aid. https://www.compassionservices.org
- Lighthouse Ranch for Boys - The Boys Ranch serves troubled young men between 12-17 years. https://www.lighthouseranch.com
- New Beginnings Children’s and Family Services – an adoption agency to place domestic and international children in forever families and assisting ladies in crises pregnancy. http://www.NBNow.org
- North American Missions, Christmas For Christ – is an annual offering that supports church planters in North America https://give.upci.org/donate/north-american-missions
- Reach Out America – Responds to crises and supports recovery to American communities. https://www.reachoutamerica.org
- Tupelo Children’s Mansion – a home giving hope for homeless children. https://mansionkids.org
You are encouraged to always be generous, but even more so in the Thanksgiving and Christmas season to those in need and depend on generosity.
Steve Drury
Stephen Drury is the founding President of United Pentecostal Foundation and United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund. He is retired from directing The Stewardship Group serves in a consulting role. He is also co-founder of LifeSprings.