Gift Giving

I was in Walmart the other day and witnessed people with buggies full of all kinds of items, many of which were Christmas gifts.  It made me think about gift-giving and the money spent on Christmas gifts, decorations, special food for the holidays and other Christmas spending.  A picture came to my mind like the one to the one above and I thought, “We spend lots of money on Christmas but how much do we spend on what Christmas really means?”

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)

“A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.” (Proverbs 16:18)

 ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” (Proverbs 28:27)

I know we give good gifts to our family and others close to us, which we should, but this image is to encourage us to think about how much we spend on what’s in our shopping cart compared to what we spend on others.  The last image I got about gift-giving was this pile of Christmas gifts above next to the Baby Jesus.  Can you see it?  What are we giving Him? I know many of us gave to Operation Christmas Child and other local opportunities to help those in need and God loves that.  My hope is that this article with help us focus on the real Gift of Christmas.  Merry Christmas!