“For I was hungry
and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and
you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me,
I was in prison and you came to me….” Matthew
25:34-46
On December 25th Christians
will celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gift-giving
is a major part of this holiday which is often referred to as “the season of
giving.” We save, budget for, and sometimes
over-spend on gift purchases for loved ones; make wish lists of what we expect to
receive; and give generously to charities and the needy. Christmas
has become more about gift giving and receiving than celebrating THE GIFT – Jesus
Christ, God’s Son.
For children of God, however, the act of giving is not seasonal but a lifestyle as modeled for us
by the Son of God when he came down to earth and God’s Word spells out for us how and
to whom we should give:
- To anyone who asks, “...and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42.). We do not reserve our giving just for people we know and like, or question a person’s need. We provide, pray and leave them in God’s hands.
- Freely, because we have received freely. For “What do you have that you did not receive? (1 Corinthians 4:7). All that we have come from God who gives to us generously. Most of us have more than we deserve or actually need.
- Sacrificially, even when we think we can’t make a difference. In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus compares the offering of the rich to that of a poor widow’s few pennies, saying that she gave more than all the others together. God has promised to provide for us; trust Him with what is His.
- Humbly, and not out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility (because we) count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3). Give and expect nothing in return.
- Secretly – Jesus warns that our giving should not be publicized for human praise but done so quietly that not “your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Then our “Father, who sees what is done in secret…,” will reward us. (Matthew 6:2-4).
- Everything – 1 Peter 4:10 says “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Our talents and gifts are ours by God’s grace and are given to us for serving His people.
We are to give more than our
money – we must give ourselves, our talent and our time.
We should visit the sick
and comfort the bereaved and the downcast. give time to prayer for the suffering, provide relief to the poor and offer hope to the oppressed, no matter who they
may be.
We are our Father’s hands and feet to the world and because we care about what our Father cares about we do all things
with patience, kindness and love.
‘Truly, I say to
you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
We please the Father when we bless others!
Prayer and
Thanksgiving: Holy Father, the Almighty God, who is LOVE, and all that is
good and perfect and pure. We thank you for your gifts of grace, mercy and kindness
that keep us and enable us to give to others as you give to us. Thank you for your gift of
hands that do good work, feet that carry good news, and tongues that can speak
comfort and hope. Thank you for the gift of your Son, your WORD that became
flesh to dwell among us and show us how to live for you as He lives in and for us. Your
WORD saved us and sanctified us to love you as you first loved us and to love others. We are
grateful that you chose us for salvation as we could do nothing to please you
without that gift. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We
pray all in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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