IN 2024, GIVING MEANING WITH A GENEROUS HEART

By Kira McCracken, Op-ed contributor Sunday, January 14, 2024Unsplash/Amy Shamblen

Donna's story is a Christmas miracle. Donna, who collapsed at the bottom of the stairs from a drug overdose, was found by her close friend, who cleaned her up, took her to church, and asked her to "come and see" who Jesus really was. Donna experienced a profound change in her life as a result of the invitation to connect with Jesus. "That's when my old life ended and my real journey began," he later said. A friend's willingness to share the gift of Christ can have an impact on different generations in a family.

While the New Year is usually filled with resolutions that aren't implemented, this January may be a little different. Why don't we have the heart of Donna's friend, asking, "What can I do for others in 2024?instead of committing to do something for ourselves? What can I offer to friends, family, and neighbors this new year? In the year 2024, God has given us everything we need, be it time, talent, treasure, or even a small invitation to gather in our homes.

God multiplies our gifts, like the boy who brought five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 hungry people in the Bible story. For when we bring whatever God calls us to give to the world, God honors it, so that our basket of bread is suddenly full of enough food to feed the multitude.

Although Jesus performed multiple miracles, we only need to carry our basket—our generous heart, ready to give and support with good intentions.

What does it mean to give and give? In Mark 12:41, we read about the poor widow who gave her last two dimes to Jesus. When he saw a rich man throwing away a lot of money, Jesus told the widow, who had given up everything she had, that she was giving away "from her poverty, everything she had to live on." He also wrote that he had "put more into the Treasury than anything else." It was probably not the first time the widow had shown generosity. He probably lived a luxurious love life, giving everything he had to his friends, his family, and, most importantly, to his God, I suspect.

This is the reason why I am certain that love is what motivates a good giver. During my time working for Come and See, I heard stories every day of people whose lives were changed when they were invited to come and see the love of Jesus, so beautifully portrayed in selected TV series.

Jackie is a single mother of three children, and one of her children suffers from severe intellectual disabilities. When she saw the real Jesus in the movie" The Chosen," it brought the Bible to life for her family, made her more loved by Jesus, made her more connected to the body of Christ around the world, and, most importantly, made her not alone.

Jackie's story reminds me of the generosity of a giver who realized how important each person's basket was. The special gifts of each person and what they bring to the table, whether time, talent, or treasure, feed the "masses," bearing witness to a benevolent God who cares for this broken world. Julie, a missionary to Taiwan, said: "We can't do it alone, but if we all understand that we all have a mission to fulfill and a role to play, and if we give our baskets full of our resources or talents to Jesus, he will bless our offerings and do miraculous multiplication." After "The Chosen" was translated into Chinese, Julie had the opportunity to share it with Taiwanese and Chinese students who had never heard of Jesus before. Julie's basket offering is a way to share Jesus with your close friends. You should also do it with your friends.

In the coming year, each of us has goods to give to our community. Let's change our new year's resolutions to involve others: get out of our comfort zones, invite people into our homes, share meals with neighbors, and make generosity a strategic goal of our lives. In addition, may we give our fish and bread to the world that is waiting for us to open our hearts and hands as passionate and affectionate givers.

What will you give the world in 2024? What do you have in the basket? May we all trust God to give greater blessings than what we are called to bring.

The Come and See Foundation has Kira McCracken as Vice President of Development.

News Sources: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/new-years-resolution-what-can-i-do-for-others-in-2024.html?clickType=link-topbar-news