There is no denying that there is a financial element to the way we celebrate the birth of the Messiah. It is true for those sectors of the economy that depend upon robust sales in December. It is true for our families as well, with our expectations of gift-giving. It can seem as if Christmas is about money, and that we can’t have a good Christmas when there is no money.
We need to examine our motivations for gift-giving. Sometime the motivation is expectation. We don’t want to forget someone who expects a Christmas present. Sometimes the motivation is exchange. Someone gives us a gift, we feel as if we should give one to them. Sometimes the motivation is love. It gives us pleasure to select the right gift for someone we love. Sometimes the motivation is to honor God. We honor God when we do our gift-giving correctly.
Gift-giving that honors God does something for the person who receives the gift and something for the person who gives the gift. For the person who receives the gift, it builds them up. It makes them more like the person God intended them to be. For the person who gives the gift, it develops their capacity to think of someone else and serve them.
In our sermon this Sunday we will talk about how to make it a good Christmas when there is no money.