"The Greatest Gift of Christmas"

Intro

Hello friends

Merry Christmas to all

(pray…)

What Makes a Good Gift?

Today I want to talk about gifts - and first ask:

Why do we give gifts on Christmas?

There are many traditions on Christmas - but why do we give gifts?

Your family might have its own tradition - perhaps you:

Open one gift on Christmas eve

Or get together with special family for the holiday

Probably the same people in the family do the cooking every year

Maybe it’s part of your tradition to make a big, formal breakfast on Christmas Day

Or maybe everyone stays in their PJ’s and you rip into the gifts

Maybe someone reads from the Bible every year - or you sing carols as a family

But just about everyone exchanges gifts for Christmas

In fact, exchanging gifts is fairly- well accepted at work, and other social settings

The tradition of gift-giving really started from the biblical account of the birth and early childhood of Jesus

The tradition came to us from the example of the wise men (Magi) who came to the child Jesus

Matthew 2:11 ESV

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

So this is where we get the tradition of gift-giving at Christmas

I’d also like to point out that God wants all of us to be generous, and cheerful givers

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 ESV

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Before I go any further - I first want to acknowledge - I understand that many traditions of Christmas do not come from the Bible:

The word “Christmas”

Santa Claus

Sticking a tree in your house

Kissing under the mistletoe

Office parties, etc

But there is nothing wrong about Christians - or anyone else - celebrating Christmas

It’s a beautiful time of year

I have three main reasons why I love Christmas:

It gives a reason to tell others about Jesus and about the reason why he came to Earth

To die on a cross and save us from our sins

It is family-oriented time of the year

a. I also want to acknowledge that I know Christmas isn’t everyone’s favorite time of year

b. And that it brings up a lot of painful memories for some

3. Christmas is the perfect time to think of others and show love to others who are having a hard time - especially, during this time of year

So, let’s get back to the subject of gifts

What is the definition of a good gift?

What makes a gift a bad gift?

Let’s talk about bad gifts for a moment

But I first want to give a definition of a good gift

A good gift is a gift that reveals that the person giving a gift knows you well - and therefore gives you the right thing that you need and/or want

And the best gifts are ones that reach a very specific and deep need the recipient has

A good gift displays how thought and love the gift-giver gave in giving the gift

For example, I can give my friend a mint - and that’s usually appreciated - because, who doesn’t want a mint

But let’s say my wife is at home, waiting for me to come home from work

And she’s hungry

And on my way home, I stop at McDonald’s because I sort of figure she’s hungry because we don’t have much in the way of food at home

And then she’s grateful because I got her McDonald’s

But she would be a lot more grateful if I went to Panera and got her favorite Cinnamon Crunch bagel and her favorite soup

And let’s say she just happened to be craving a bagel and soup from Panera

Which is the better gift? McDonald’s? Or Panera?

Or what if I stopped at the grocery store and got all the ingredients to make soup and bought fresh French bread and her favorite ice cream?

And I made her homemade soup?

And I brought her the soup, and some bread and some ice cream while she sat in bed and watched TV?

Which gift says I know her the best?

Which gift satisfies her specific need - and not only satisfies her hunger, but shows her how much I love her?

What if I got myself food, and came home with a $10 gift card to McDonald’s to give her?

What if I stopped at Panera by myself or to meet a friend - and I didn’t get her Panera, but I did give her the $10 gift card?

Do you think she’d be upset?

But I’m giving her $10!!

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!