The recent events in Haiti have sparked generosity worldwide. As of January 27, 2010, people have given $528 million to 40 U.S. nonprofit organizations providing disaster relief. This exceeds the pace of giving after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the Asian tsunamis in 2004. It’s wonderful to see so many people joining the efforts to restore Haiti.
Our willingness to provide foreign aid also convicted me about our local giving. Just think about the times you’ve hurried by or ignored the homeless person in need. Or, maybe you’ve denied a family member or friend because you remember how they mismanaged your donation the last time. Yet again, however, Jesus issues a challenge, “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow” (Matthew 5:42, New Living Translation). If we’re able, we should give to people in need.
The wonderful thing about giving is that it qualifies you to receive. An old song say it like this, “You can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try … The more you give, the more He’ll give to you.” So let’s give, unconditionally, knowing that God will reward our generosity (see Luke 6:38).