It is more blessed to give than to receive
December 1, 2008 (Monday)
With the arrival of so-called, “Black Friday,” Christmas 2008 shopping season is officially underway. Shoppers waited in line, sometimes all night, for special low prices on many items. From all accounts, more shoppers braved the crowds and ignored the inconvenience of very early hours than had been expected. More than last year, in fact. The explanation, of course, is that the worrisome economic news has motivated people to seek bargains. People are trying to spend less because their perception is that they now have less, and will have even less in the days ahead. The great crowds in the stores on Friday was a phenomenon all its own and does not necessarily signal a great season for the merchants. Christmas shopping is important to stores because they do 40% of all their business at this time of year.
Some families are turning their attention toward helping the less fortunate rather than spending a lot of money on themselves. They hope this experience will not only bless those they help but will also help the children in the family to discover the joys of giving.
Whatever we do in the matter of gifts, it is important that we who are Christians make sure that the love of God in Christ is central in our observance. Many churches are putting the final touches of preparation on the concerts and pageants planned for this season. It is the hope of those churches that their observances through drama and music will help to bring the true meaning of Christmas to people. The central fact of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. The great meaning of that event for the world is that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to save the world and give it new life.
There are many activities of this season that are not necessarily associated with the birth of the Messiah at Bethlehem. Many of our customs have come from other sources, but they all blend together to accentuate the joy in our hearts that the coming of the Christ has made possible.
Those who find the greatest blessings at Christmas are those who use the occasion to do something good for someone, without any expectation of reward or appreciation. Every act of love and generosity reflects the greatest gift of all, described in John 3:16 as God’s great act of love for the world, the giving of His only Son to save us all. Whoever believes in Him has a meaningful life that will never end.