Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

Black Friday to Giving Tuesday

By Katie Sweeting November 29, 2018 Devotion

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
II Corinthians 9:6-9 NKJV

Over the past week we have witnessed a dizzying litany of messages.

  • Thanksgiving  –  “Be Thankful.”
  • Black Friday – “Shop Till You Drop.”
  • Small Business Saturday – “Shop local.”
  • Cyber Monday – “Shop online today.”
  • Giving Tuesday – “Give to your favorite charity.

I tend to enjoy the beginning and the end of this short week of persuasive messages. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, creating a space for family togetherness and reminding us of all the blessings for which we should be thankful. Despite an inundated in-box, I also enjoy Giving Tuesday — a reminder of all the worthy charities I could support. But the middle three days – not my favorite. I rarely leave the house on Black Friday. I’m not a huge fan of shopping, and I dislike crowds, which means Black Friday is one of my least favorite days of the year. Patronizing small businesses is important to me, so I do make an attempt to “shop local” to make sure the corner coffee shop, chocolatier, and independent book store will stay in business!

But during this season from Thanksgiving to Christmas, most of us will spend some of our time, and much of our money, on others. As we consider year-end giving, and Christmas gift shopping, what should govern our decisions?

Well, “God loves a cheerful giver,” so I definitely want my giving to come from a joyful heart. I want my giving to be deliberate and well thought out. And I want to be generous. I want my giving to be guided by God and come from a place of thankfulness.

God has been so generous to us. We owe Him our lives — both physical and spiritual. So as we make Christmas lists, and give to our churches, and other very worthy charities, may we all be guided by God, be generous, and give cheerfully!

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasures for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

 

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