Worthiness is not a requirement for a gift.”
–Donald L. Robertson (Soul of a Mountain Man)
“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
–James 5:8 (NKJV)
—————————–
The Incarnation–a mystery of mysteries; it is indeed a most wonderful mystery. Christman! The season in which we celebrate the momentous and marvelous mystery sent to us by God. Many think it is a time of “getting;” a time of splurging using Christmas as an excuse to get something they want or want to give. Chad Bird said, “He who dies with the most toys has generally toyed with life and lost.” A true, and shameful statement. Christmas, in reality, should be a time of giving. By giving I do not mean the giving of the biggest or most expensive gift to build up your ego–that is prideful giving, boasting.
Many object to Christmas as being too materialistic. That again is often an excuse. Yes, there is the material aspect, there is the commercialization of Christmas, we do not have to get caught up in that, but do not leave out the concept of giving. We see the Magi bringing gifts to the Child. (Let me interject here, do not get hung up in the criticism that the Magi were not at the birth of Jesus, instead enjoy the fact that they were part of the story.) Some may say, “I have nothing to give, nothing to offer.” I would rebuke them with a hardy–“Bah Humbug!”
Oh, my friend you do–we all do as believers have something to give! I well remember as a kid growing up that on the morning at church when we had the Christmas sermon that at the end of the service there would be a bag of goodies given to all present. That bag would usually be filled with an apple and orange, all sorts of uncracked nuts, an assortment of Christmas candy, and a red or green popcorn ball. I have to smile as I write this at the wonderful gift of memory that I have of watching my Grandma making dozens of those popcorn balls for the occasion. I also have the story of my Mom saying that during the Depression the only gift they received was a popcorn ball.
But, hold on, think–ponder–for a moment. No, you may not have an apple or orange to give to someone, or even a popcorn ball, but you have something better, deeper and more wonderful. Again think–ponder–those wonderful fruits that are within you. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV) These can be given out, and should be given out, not only at Christmas time but throughout the year. This is a way that we can keep Christmas the whole year long, but giving those gifts to others around us, but using the gifts that God has given us. When was the last time you gave someone “longsuffering” (patience)? When was the last time you did something “good” for someone? Or showed them the joy of the Lord? W.C. Jones wrote, “The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.” But it should not only be at Christmas, but every day of the year.
Think–ponder–for a moment the great Gift. Yes, that gift of God’s Son. You know the verse well, “For God so loved the world [that’s you and me] that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV, additions are mine) Now, having received and enjoyed the gift of His Son, what do we do with it? Let me help with one item this Christmas season. Hear, and do, what the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5, NKJV) My, my, when was the last time you gave the gift of gentleness to someone? Now, don’t get them confused with being namby-pamby. Gentleness is acting with least possible offense in a situation, but taking proper control of the situation. Hmmm, ponder that.
In short, do not say, “I have nothing to offer.” Offer the gift of gentleness. Why? The Lord is at hand. Therefore, offer those around you the knowledge that Jesus is returning. The First Advent we celebrate this season, however in the midst of this wonderful celebration we look anxiously to the soon coming Second Advent.
“Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to you glad.”
–John Greenleaf Whittier
“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
–James 5:8 (NKJV)
—————————–
The Incarnation–a mystery of mysteries; it is indeed a most wonderful mystery. Christman! The season in which we celebrate the momentous and marvelous mystery sent to us by God. Many think it is a time of “getting;” a time of splurging using Christmas as an excuse to get something they want or want to give. Chad Bird said, “He who dies with the most toys has generally toyed with life and lost.” A true, and shameful statement. Christmas, in reality, should be a time of giving. By giving I do not mean the giving of the biggest or most expensive gift to build up your ego–that is prideful giving, boasting.
Many object to Christmas as being too materialistic. That again is often an excuse. Yes, there is the material aspect, there is the commercialization of Christmas, we do not have to get caught up in that, but do not leave out the concept of giving. We see the Magi bringing gifts to the Child. (Let me interject here, do not get hung up in the criticism that the Magi were not at the birth of Jesus, instead enjoy the fact that they were part of the story.) Some may say, “I have nothing to give, nothing to offer.” I would rebuke them with a hardy–“Bah Humbug!”
Oh, my friend you do–we all do as believers have something to give! I well remember as a kid growing up that on the morning at church when we had the Christmas sermon that at the end of the service there would be a bag of goodies given to all present. That bag would usually be filled with an apple and orange, all sorts of uncracked nuts, an assortment of Christmas candy, and a red or green popcorn ball. I have to smile as I write this at the wonderful gift of memory that I have of watching my Grandma making dozens of those popcorn balls for the occasion. I also have the story of my Mom saying that during the Depression the only gift they received was a popcorn ball.
But, hold on, think–ponder–for a moment. No, you may not have an apple or orange to give to someone, or even a popcorn ball, but you have something better, deeper and more wonderful. Again think–ponder–those wonderful fruits that are within you. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV) These can be given out, and should be given out, not only at Christmas time but throughout the year. This is a way that we can keep Christmas the whole year long, but giving those gifts to others around us, but using the gifts that God has given us. When was the last time you gave someone “longsuffering” (patience)? When was the last time you did something “good” for someone? Or showed them the joy of the Lord? W.C. Jones wrote, “The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.” But it should not only be at Christmas, but every day of the year.
Think–ponder–for a moment the great Gift. Yes, that gift of God’s Son. You know the verse well, “For God so loved the world [that’s you and me] that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV, additions are mine) Now, having received and enjoyed the gift of His Son, what do we do with it? Let me help with one item this Christmas season. Hear, and do, what the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5, NKJV) My, my, when was the last time you gave the gift of gentleness to someone? Now, don’t get them confused with being namby-pamby. Gentleness is acting with least possible offense in a situation, but taking proper control of the situation. Hmmm, ponder that.
In short, do not say, “I have nothing to offer.” Offer the gift of gentleness. Why? The Lord is at hand. Therefore, offer those around you the knowledge that Jesus is returning. The First Advent we celebrate this season, however in the midst of this wonderful celebration we look anxiously to the soon coming Second Advent.
“Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to you glad.”
–John Greenleaf Whittier