Tim Tebow shows Christian generosity with annual Heisman auction

by Seth Udinski

Seth Udinski, FISM News

 

Former college football national champion and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is known worldwide as a man who is unashamed of his strong Christian convictions. While on The Dan Patrick Show on Monday, Tebow talked about a powerful and amusing way he has been raising money to help those less fortunate.

Every year, Tebow conducts a public auction of his 2007 Heisman Trophy, which he won as a sophomore during his dynamic career with the Florida Gators. For the past eight years, Tebow has auctioned off the trophy to a different owner each year. The auction has generated massive amounts of cash, mostly due to celebrities joining in the fun.

Some of the big names who have owned the Tebow Heisman are country singer Luke Bryan and television personality and singer Kathie Lee Gifford. Tebow shared the amusement he’s experienced with Luke Bryan, an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan, who allegedly decorated the trophy in Georgia gear to poke good-natured fun at Tebow. Tebow has reportedly gotten his hands on Bryant’s CMA award and returned the favor, all in good fun.

As enjoyable as Tebow and Bryant’s public jests at the expense of their career awards have been, this report is most profound because of the impact Tebow has had on the underprivileged. He told host Dan Patrick that this celebrity auction has raised over $1 million for children in need in the eight years since he began doing it.

Author’s Biblical Analysis:

There is much by which Christians can be encouraged in this report. Tebow, who has been maligned by many in the liberal media throughout his career both as a player and an analyst, has never wavered on his commitment to Christ. His heart for the gospel and his love for the least of these, especially children, is evident in his generosity.

Two encouragements come to the forefront for Christians in this report. The first is this: Tebow is exemplifying the generous heart of God.

Tebow has been blessed in extravagant ways throughout his life. He has made millions of dollars both as a player and as a college football analyst on ESPN. Though he has been maligned and hated by many, he has also enjoyed the praise of millions both for his talent and for his high moral character.

Following the example of God Himself, Tebow has chosen not to be greedy with the blessings he’s been given, but to be exceedingly generous instead. This is a great reminder for Christians of the generous and kind God that we serve, who delights in blessing his children (James 1:19).

Most importantly, this is a reminder of God’s greatest act of generosity — giving His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die as our substitutionary sacrifice so that we, hell-bound sinners, would be saved and brought into a loving relationship with God.

Tebow understands, as we all must, that he is a sinner, completely deserving of eternal destruction under God’s wrath. Because he has first been given much, namely sonship in the house of God through the perfect work of Jesus Christ, he has chosen to be exceedingly generous as well. May we have this same attitude of exceeding generosity.

The second encouragement for Christians is this: Tebow has forsaken worldly treasures for a heavenly-minded perspective.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18:

We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Tebow has, quite literally, given up one of his most valuable worldly treasures for the sake of those in need. If he so desired, he could make a pretty penny on the sale of his Heisman, which he worked tirelessly to achieve as the Gators’ quarterback during the 2007 season. The trophy is both a symbol of Tebow’s greatness as a player and a priceless piece of sports merchandise.

Yet he, as the Apostle Paul before him, has chosen to focus not on acquiring earthly treasures but on an eternal treasure that will never fade. He has physically parted with an earthly treasure and given the money he’s accumulated from it to the least of these. The Lord Jesus promises believers that if we act in this way, he will remember what we did and bless us for it. For whatever we did for the “least of these,” we did for the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we, no matter how much we have been given, exhibit this same generous heart and eternal perspective. May we trust in the promise that our eternal treasure, the greatest of which is Jesus Himself, is waiting for all who trust in Him and Him alone for salvation.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

DONATE NOW