Ken Smitherman, President, Association of Christian Schools International (retired 2009)
For many weeks now the evidence of Christmas has been all about us—at least the commercial side. The malls, department stores, and various shops proclaim a “Merry Christmas” through offering a myriad of things, things designed to be bought and given as gifts. The bright lights, joyous colors, delightful music, and overall holiday spirit develop an aura that simply does not exist at any other time of the year.
A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small.
—Eva K. Logue
But somewhere down deep we began to reflect, Now where did this all come from? It seems quite a departure from that announcement two millennia ago when the angel said to the shepherds on a lonely hillside in the dark of night, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). As we reflect on what that night encompassed—the “Gift of gifts”—we begin to get a glimpse of real giving.
In spite of the commercialization, glitz, and overall departure from celebrating the birth of our Savior, the message of giving comes through at Christmastime. But how do we foster a spirit of giving to Jesus? When we recognize Christmas as the day we celebrate His birth, we understand the importance of giving gifts to the person whose birthday it is. One of the great joys of giving is knowing that the gifts we have chosen are what a person wants or needs. Is there anything Jesus wants or needs? To answer this question, we can study Matthew 25:31–46, which indicates that to give to Him we must find Him. “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (vv. 35–36). Jesus continued by saying, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (v. 40). He was explaining that in order to give to Him we must give to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned.
Perhaps this Christmas will open the door for a new and deeper thinking about giving to Jesus— not just on His birthday but as an ongoing way of life. It can be a way of living, not only for the wealthy but for everyone who is a follower of Christ.
I am reminded of the story I heard a few years ago about a woman in Chad, one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries of the world. As the story goes, she was taken by slave traders to the northernmost part of the country where she was sold to a wealthy landowner. He declared her as his personal property and turned her into a “baby machine,” having her bear 12 or 13 children for him.
The day came when she was released from the household and left penniless to fend for herself, worn out and well beyond the point of needing to mother her grown children. Barefoot, she wandered the near impossible distance back to the village in southern Chad where she had been born and taken into slavery as a girl.
Upon her return she was unable to find any family or friends. However, the village church provided a cottage and food for her. She was given a chicken. She sold the eggs and eventually saved enough money to buy a pair of sandals, something she had never owned. She wore the sandals proudly, for they were her most valuable possession.
One day her church was taking an offering in order to send out a new missionary. The elderly, frail lady went to the front of the church where the offering basket sat and took off her precious sandals. Placing them in the basket, she said, “My feet are too old and worn out to go as a missionary, but I give my sandals so that they might be sold to help send other younger feet as a missionary.”
This story reflects the spirit of giving that I believe Christmas should engender. How will you foster it in your children? Your church or Christian school is undoubtedly sponsoring some kind of gift drive for “the least of these,” and your community is probably offering many other opportunities for you to give to Jesus. However, if you need a little help, we invite you to visit our website, which provides links to Christmas giving opportunities. Maybe this is the year to start something new.
A Birthday Gift For Jesus 34.4