Embrace the spirit of Christmas

Over the years the Christian community has learnt to set aside the debate on the actual date of birth of Jesus Christ. Whether He was born on December 25 or any other day means very little to us but the reason for which He was born is our major concern. Christ was freely given by God to this world as a saviour of people from their sins (John 3:16). So to us Christmas season is not just a time of celebrating the birthday of our Saviour but also of imitating the love of the heavenly Father by   giving to others especially to those who do not deserve our love and to those who are less fortunate. It is more profitable to forget the debate and embrace the spirit of Christmas which is giving out of hearts full of love.
It was out of a heart full of love that God gave to us Jesus Christ to be our sin-bearer. God’s love always has this marked characteristic: it manifests itself in giving. Of course it cannot be any other way for He who has said that it is more blessed to give than to receive cannot fail to exemplify His principle.
If we love our Father then we must follow His good example. God expects us to be active givers rather than passive receivers. Love always gives but lust never stops taking. Today many are like the Corinthians and the rich young ruler.
The church at Corinth was blessed with all spiritual gifts: prophecy, speaking in tongues, knowledge, wisdom, faith, discerning of spirits, working of miracles, interpretation of tongues and gifts of healing. It was the church that exemplified the fire and the gifts of Pentecost. But it lacked one thing; the grace of giving. Paul corrected this error of omission in 2 Corinthians 8:7, “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us see that you abound in this grace also.”
Lacking the grace of giving was not peculiar to the Corinthians only. Previously, the Lord Jesus himself had come across a rich young ruler who had obeyed all the Ten Commandments from his youth. Jesus so loved this highly spiritual young man that he offered him the opportunity to be part of the team of disciples who walked with Him everywhere doing the work of ministry. But within the offer was the revelation of the one thing the rich man lacked and must do before joining the team of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus said to him, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10:21). The young man rejected the offer and went away sad because he was not be prepared to part away with his great possessions.
 His lack of the grace of giving caused him to choose to lose his soul and gain worldly riches. One sure of way demonstrating to God and others that you do not love the things of this world is to give them away when necessary.
But what must you give? You are not required to give all that you have like the rich young ruler. You can give what you are enabled by God’s grace to give. You can give money to the house of God. You can give clothes to the poor and needy. You can give a listening ear to the one looking for someone who can understand him. You can give affection through appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back to your children and your spouse. You can give laughter to the despondent by sharing funny stories and jokes. You can give a written note or text message expressing compliments of the new season especially to those you have not been very kind to during the year. You can give your time and help someone who needs your assistance.
In Matthew 25:34-40 Jesus Christ revealed that compassion would be a factor that would be used to separate the righteous from the wicked. According to this text and others related to it true religion manifests itself in giving: feeding the hungry, being hospitable to strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting prisoners, orphans and widows.
So make a quality decision to abound in this grace of giving starting this Christmas holiday. Instead of joining the debate club arguing on the actual date Christ was born embrace the spirit of giving and you will find that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
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