Last week, in Should Christians Celebrate Christmas, Part 2, we discovered that even though they are all of pagan origins, all of the things we normally associate with Christmas can be used to draw us closer to Him! We can’t get away from these symbols. Instead we can use them to point us back to the real reason for the season: Jesus Christ!
But what about the giving of gifts? Is that something a Christian should do in celebration of Christmas? With overspending such a huge problem in North American, with some families raking in sometimes thousands of dollars of debt all in the name of gift-giving, and with the fact that for the most part, those who receive our gifts aren’t exactly needy, isn’t the giving of gifts at Christmas simply feeding our materialistic nature?
I took that question back to God, and His immediate answer was “yes”!
Gift-giving is vitally important because it reminds us of Jesus’ ultimate gift. And while we are giving gifts, we are also receiving, an important reminder that Jesus’ gift does us no good whatsoever if we do not receive it!
But how can we avoid feeding our inherent materialism?
This past year I awoke on Christmas morning to a white world. Since everyone was still sleeping, I went out for a walk. What an ideal opportunity to talk to God about what was on my heart, and the farther I walked in that freshly fallen snow, the more convicted I became that I had not done well in the area of gift-giving this Christmas!
Oh, I had spent plenty of time Christmas shopping. I had carefully chosen each gift, wrapped it up, and stowed it away under the Christmas tree. What more could I have done?
But the sense of rebuke would not shift.
Then, suddenly God began to show me tiny snippets of my life over the past few weeks.
First was the time when my husband had suggested we invite someone over who might not have anyone to celebrate Christmas with. I had listened and given lip service to the fact that it was a “good idea”, but in all reality, I cringed at the thought. Having people over is stressful for me. Christmas is already a stressful time of year. I certainly didn’t need more stress! And so when he finished the conversation by saying he had no idea who to invite, I breathed a silent sigh of relief and told him I didn’t know who to invite either!
But as I crunched through that newly-fallen snow, I suddenly could have filled up my entire living room with people. Take the international students at the local college, for example. There were plenty of them who would have loved to come into a warm home for Christmas dinner. And what an opportunity to share with them the love of Jesus!
And then there was the local soup shelter. There would be plenty lining up outside on Christmas day. It would only require driving downtown and opening up the car doors!
And there was, of course, my dear friend who is raising three teenagers on 400$ a month. Yes, she lived over an hour away, and no, she doesn’t have a car. Yes, it would require about 4 hours on the road to bring her and her family for Christmas dinner. But wouldn’t it have been showing her love?
I began to balk at this thought, however. I mean, I did send her some money for Christmas!
God’s response was quick: It’s easy to give money. What is hard is opening up my home! Yet which gift best shows the love of God? The one that is the greater sacrifice!
And then, what about…
Needless to say, the list went on and on, and with each new revelation, my understanding began to increase. The giving of gifts at Christmas time isn’t about going out and buying things. It’s about being a living demonstration of Jesus’ love! Being His hands and feet! Fulfilling people’s needs!
It’s about sacrifice!
So is it right for followers of Christ to exchange gifts on Christmas?
The answer is an enthusiastic “yes”! As long as we are truly giving of ourselves. As long as we are being Jesus’ hands and feet on earth so that His love is demonstrated to a lost and lonely world! For only in so giving do we bring true meaning to the giving of gifts at Christmas!
So what will I try do different this year?
I will try to give more of myself. I will open my home to the lonely. I will take some of the money I might have otherwise spent on those who have plenty and give it to the poor. I will consider sponsoring a missionary, purchasing and distributing Bibles, sending food to the hungry, all in the name of Jesus.
Let’s remember this Christmas: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matt 25:37-40, NKJV)
But Christmas time is so busy! With all of the hustle and bustle, don’t we rob God of the intimate time He wishes to have with us during this special season?
Join us next Thursday for Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? Part 4: The Hustle.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
(To access the entire “Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?” mini-series, please click here.)