Faith in the News Christian News
Why should you give this Christmas season? Here are four reasons why.
God is a Giver
The Apostle Paul reminds all of us that we have nothing that was not given to us by God. He asks, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it (1st Cor 4:7)? Since God has given us everything, how can we not give anything? We are never more like God when we give to those who cannot help themselves, because that was our state at one time, spiritually speaking (Eph 2:1-2). Here’s what I have without God’s help; nothing!
God Cares for Families
A simple reading will tell us what true religion looks like, and Jesus’ half-brother James nails it; “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27). Naturally we know, at least I hope we do, that we must remain unstained from the grip of sin that’s prevalent in the world. I don’t mean sinless, but we should sin less, however James says the first mark of true religion is caring for the orphans and widows in their affliction (or suffering). That’s why our church ministers to those in the local nursing home, because almost all of them are orphans and widows, but we can’t forget to visit those in prison (Matt 25:36), which is what Jesus says is “doing it unto Him” (Matt 25:40). This includes ministering to prisoners and their families. They are often the forgotten ones, but not by God.
God blesses the Giver
The church is described as a body, and that’s why it’s called, the Body of Christ, and the Head of the Body of course is Jesus Christ. It’s a great analogy because our feet need to go where Christ would go if He were here on earth; our eyes need to look at the needs of others as Christ’s eyes did; we need to embrace the hurting which is what Christ’s arms would do; and we need to be His hands and give to those who have little or nothing. That’s part of the reason for giving this Christmas season. God is a giver; and I think that we ought to be as well. Besides, the giver is more blessed than those who receive (Acts 20:35)..
God gave the Most
I hope you stop and consider this Christmas seasons just how much God has given to you. I know I have and I am speechless. First and foremost, He gave His one and only Son, Who lived a sinless life and gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45); a payment we could never have paid. Then, He gave us His Spirit so that we might be brought to repentance and trust in Christ. This too was not our doing (John 6:44; Eph 2:8-9). Christian, God has brought us to this time and place…Christmas time, and we have an opportunity to do good for others. It’s just as the Apostle Paul was writing about, where he said that we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10), so now we must chose to walk in them.
Conclusion
A great example of giving during the Christmas season is the Angel Tree. Angel Tree serves children with incarcerated parents. The main message here is that these precious children often feel forgotten and abandoned and that hurts especially bad at Christmas time. Angel Tree helps provide gifts and the gospel message to these children which lets them know that they are not forgotten and are loved, not only by their parent but also by Jesus. Without our help, the Angel Tree might be bare. Then, how many would have nothing on Christmas morning. Just picture this; a child gets up on Christmas morning and hurries into the living room, and there, under the Christmas tree, is nothing! Isn’t that reason enough to give this Christmas season? I pray it is.
