What kind of giving changes YOU?? |
Dec 21, 2010 |
Christmas is upon us and I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. “Only a hippopotamus will do! I don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy - I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy!”
Well, maybe not, but this song humorously illustrates how we think about Christmas - giving and GETTING!
It won’t be long before we’re all unwrapping presents (and hopefully I WON’T get a hippopotamus!) and thinking about the gifts we gave and received. It’s an enjoyable time, but I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about giving specifically.
It’s a constant effort to avoid being sucked into the consumerism of the Christmas season, but it is important for us to remember why giving is such an important value to embrace -- it is because of God’s great gift of Jesus Christ that we have life everlasting! And so it is during this season that we focus on giving to reveal the character, love and spirit of Christ who dwells in us. We love because He first loved us, and we give because He first gave to us.
We often think about how people will respond to the gifts we gave them. Will they enjoy it? Will it bless them? Will they find it useful? But let me give you something else to consider this Christmas season... how does your gift giving transform YOU?
In other words, what gift could you give, or how might you give a particular gift so that it changes you from the inside and grows you more in the image of Christ? It’s not too late to think about this AND we don’t have to think about it just for Christmas, but let’s consider a few ideas:
Could it be taking a special dinner to a family you know who is going through a difficult period, and taking time to get to know them better?
Could it be opening up your home ON Christmas (or any special occasion) to someone who has no family to share such an occasion with?
Could it be going out of your way to hand deliver a card or gift instead of mailing it in order to show your love for someone?
These are things I’m thinking about - what are you thinking about? How is God leading you to give so that you are emulating the same love He graciously and undeservedly shows us? How is He leading you to give so that you’ll grow in His image? Please do share your thoughts - you just might inspire and nudge others to do likewise!
