Season of Giving
Christmas is a beautiful time! The spirit of giving is a wonderful thing. Although sometimes I think gift-giving can feel very obligatory, and we put pressure on ourselves only to end up exchanging gifts with each other that are almost the same, it truly is the thought that counts. Because giving is an expression of our love for one another, not a comparison of the things we exchange. It's the same in our relationship with God. He gives to us the same way He loves us, generously and relentlessly. And we should give as an act of worship and a way of life.
Our God is a giving God. James 1:15-17 says "Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." Beloved, every gift that we receive, ultimately comes from the hands of our Heavenly Father - the jobs we have, the homes we live in, the money in our accounts, our families, our friends, etc. Matthew 7:11 says "If you, then, though you are evil (or sinful), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" God gives because of His great love for us. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave…His one and only Son." The Son of God we celebrate at Christmas time and the salvation He brings are gifts from our Heavenly Father above.
In turn, we should be growing as givers. Shouldn't we? Now I know this is not always easy. It's a challenge for me at times when I read that God loves a "cheerful giver" and not a reluctant one or one that gives out of compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7). We all know that feeling, right? But when I realize all the blessings we have been recipients of, I think our hearts should overflow with gratitude and generosity toward God and one another. Now I'm not necessarily talking about material giving here. I think we can all agree that spoiling each other with expensive things and lots of stuff (and knocking yourself out on Black Friday) is not the heart of Christmas. But having a generous and loving spirit toward God and one another is. Ephesians 1:3 says "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
Beloved, our heartfelt worship and praise to God at Christmas time, and a kind and generous spirit toward others, is our gift back to God. For He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing we could ever hope for, and it all begins with Christ on Christmas Day!
Pastor Darren
