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“For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. “

Jesus, John 3:16

The Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the U.S. has been designated as Giving Tuesday. The name speaks for itself but just in case you didn’t know, it is a day of pre-meditated and orchestrated generosity.

I’m in, how about you? Whether it’s a little of our time, our attention, words of kindness or financial resources, we all have something to share.

This morning I asked God to help me identify a giving opportunity, a specific situation that I could help with, be it nearby or even far away.

The answer came before 9 a.m.

A friend shared a text about a local family with three children that has been hit hard with medical expenses. My wife and I will gladly join with others from our church to be a blessing to this family in their time of need.

Like most folks, we’ve been on both sides of this equation. We’ve received and we’ve given.

Studies on giving habits reveal that Christians tend to be the most generous people. No doubt, this spirit of generosity comes from God, who is the original Giver. Like the first car in the drive-thru that starts a chain reaction of paying for the car behind, God started the giving one Friday when He gave His Son.

He [God the Father] who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32

Paul’s point with this rhetorical question is that God was and is supremely generous. He only had one Son and He gave him up for a mission to save the world. This is an important point, because some of us mistakenly see God as a taker who wants only to take something from us when the reality is that in His essence, God is a Giver.

The only thing God wants to take from us are the burdens that weigh us down so that in exchange He can give us peace.

The way most Christians see it is that in Christ we are blessed so we can be a blessing to others. He gives, we share, He gives more, we share more, and so it goes. First recipients, then givers. That’s us.

Happy giving.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.