When we queried Westsiders as to what they felt were essential components of Christmas, three of their top essentials were friends, songs and giving.
I believe Christmas is God’s idea, and that central to the idea of Christmas in His heart was the idea of giving. I believe John 3:16 is a ‘Christmas verse.’
There was a lot of giving on ‘Christmas 1’ … starting w/ God giving His Son. Then giving went viral. Mary gave her body. Joseph gave Mary the benefit of the doubt. Joseph and Mary gave Jesus a family. Angels gave directions. Shepherds gave praise. The Magi gave gifts:
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:11, NIV
What do you think Joseph and Mary did with the gifts the Magi gave to their young son? Did they sell them and put the money in a college fund? Did they use them for living expenses? More than likely, they used the money to flee to Egypt before Herod could kill baby Jesus, and then some time later to return home to Nazareth.
The Magi may have never discovered the full significance of their gifts. Did they ever find out that their gifts played a part in Jesus surviving, maturing and fulfilling His mission to give us the gift of New Life? (See Romans 6:23)
Let’s be generous. Let’s be people who love to give. Who knows, maybe our gift will play a part in fulfilling God’s purpose and dream and mission for someone’s life!