Well, Christmas is over. The stockings have been delved into, the gifts unwrapped, the dinner devoured, the pictures taken, the games played, and the family and friends visited. And once again, I can't seem to shake the feeling that there's got to be more to Christmas than this.
Now, you must understand, this is a very drastic statement for me. I am one of the biggest gift-givers that you will ever meet in your entire life. I think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars to purchase, or dozens of hours to make, that perfect gift. To me, nothing is too lavish or extravagant, as long as it doesn't indebt me. But even for me, Christmas just seems so empty this year.
I see my siblings yelling in excitement over some new gadget, and my mind takes me to the little Moroccan girl who gasps in utter delight when I give her a few pennies of my change. I hear the pastor describing from the pulpet the happiness of his children at their stacks of gifts, and my thoughts turn to the chorus of gratefulness from the orphans in South Korea when I give them socks and mittens and a couple of snacks for Christmas. My eyes wander over the mounds and mounds of discarded wrapping paper and excessive decorations, and my brains wanders to the memory of the happiness of the people in Costa Rica who don't exchange any presents at all, and who's homes are decorated by a single strand of old, flickering Christmas lights.
But what can we do to make Christmas seem more "real?" How can we give it more depth, make it more meaningful than the traditional useless knick-knacks, excessive stress, and empty bank accounts? Perhaps we would best start by giving a gift to God. Regardless of whether they truly need it or not, all of us are good at giving people random gifts just to mark the occasion. But what do you give to the One who literally has everything? How do you show your love to the Maker of it all?
God doesn't want our stuff. He doesn't want our lip-service. He doesn't really even want our money, although He does ask us to tithe a portion of what we make back to Him. What He really wants is our love. Our admiration, adoration, and appreciation. Our gift to God is how we respond to the gifts that He has given us. So what is your gift to Him? How will you respond to His blessings in your life? Will you squander them on silly, useless trash that will disappear or lose its value within a few weeks or months? Or will you invest it in people, in God, in something eternal? The choice is yours. But choose wisely - whatever your gift is, it will have an eternal impact.
Now, you must understand, this is a very drastic statement for me. I am one of the biggest gift-givers that you will ever meet in your entire life. I think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars to purchase, or dozens of hours to make, that perfect gift. To me, nothing is too lavish or extravagant, as long as it doesn't indebt me. But even for me, Christmas just seems so empty this year.
I see my siblings yelling in excitement over some new gadget, and my mind takes me to the little Moroccan girl who gasps in utter delight when I give her a few pennies of my change. I hear the pastor describing from the pulpet the happiness of his children at their stacks of gifts, and my thoughts turn to the chorus of gratefulness from the orphans in South Korea when I give them socks and mittens and a couple of snacks for Christmas. My eyes wander over the mounds and mounds of discarded wrapping paper and excessive decorations, and my brains wanders to the memory of the happiness of the people in Costa Rica who don't exchange any presents at all, and who's homes are decorated by a single strand of old, flickering Christmas lights.
But what can we do to make Christmas seem more "real?" How can we give it more depth, make it more meaningful than the traditional useless knick-knacks, excessive stress, and empty bank accounts? Perhaps we would best start by giving a gift to God. Regardless of whether they truly need it or not, all of us are good at giving people random gifts just to mark the occasion. But what do you give to the One who literally has everything? How do you show your love to the Maker of it all?
God doesn't want our stuff. He doesn't want our lip-service. He doesn't really even want our money, although He does ask us to tithe a portion of what we make back to Him. What He really wants is our love. Our admiration, adoration, and appreciation. Our gift to God is how we respond to the gifts that He has given us. So what is your gift to Him? How will you respond to His blessings in your life? Will you squander them on silly, useless trash that will disappear or lose its value within a few weeks or months? Or will you invest it in people, in God, in something eternal? The choice is yours. But choose wisely - whatever your gift is, it will have an eternal impact.
Galatians 2:19-21
19"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
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