Dear Trekker,
The start point to learn about giving is in the simple straightforward message of Christmas… “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” There is good reason this verse from the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verse 16, is the most quoted and well-known verse in all Scripture. It captures the nature of God and is the essence of Christmas.
God only does that which is consistent with His nature. So man lives out His image when he chooses to give as God chooses to give. The highest form of imitation known to man is to give as God gives… unconditionally, extravagantly, completely, sacrificially! What more could He give… oh how He loves you and me!
Celebrating Christmas then simply affirms the Gift of Jesus Christ to the world of humanity. Somehow, men past (before Jesus) had lost their bearings. They had lost touch with the Creator, the Provider of every good and perfect gift which comes from above. So God came near to save man from the awful, miserable reality of not knowing God as Savior, Sustainer, and ultimate End. This visited planet had Jesus the Gift in the flesh for but thirty years, then He died a pitiful, unjust death… but on the third day, up from the grave He arose. Mission accomplished… mission complete! And whoever believes this won’t perish but have eternal life. Times have changed little in 2000 years. You either get it or you don’t. “As many as receive Him, to them He gives the power to become the sons and daughters of God… according to John, Chapter 1.
Frankly trekker, I have been a bit amused over the years by those who don’t like to exchange Christmas gifts. Gift exchanges are symbolic of the essence of Christmas. It is in man’s nature to give once he or she “gets the message” of Christmas. Since everything belongs to God and His desire to bless and give is unlimited, our sacrificial giving can and does get us in step with God. It becomes a way of life; hence, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Cheerful giving of ourselves to Him first (Trekker, read II Corinthians, Chapters 8 and 9 this Christmas. It is the scriptural storybook guide of practical giving for us mortals.) and then to others, not coerced, but from a new heart of unconditional love, is not only pursing happiness in this life, it is “catching” it. And trekker, it is infectious in every generation!
Now, as I survey the landscape in 2010, and lay the preoccupations of the day in our country over against the true meaning of Christmas as the God-given template for giving, I notice a very disturbing trend. Instead of people helping people because they choose to do so, we have reverted to or adopted the imposition of taxation by government to relieve the needs of the poor and oppressed. Is this a legitimate function of government? No wonder the election of November 2010 turned out as it did. Such taxation, imposed by a few in government upon the people at large, is not received well in any age. People “get up in arms” as the ballot box revealed in 2010, and as the American Revolution actualized in 1776. One of my favorite writers, economist Walter Williams, says it well: “Taking from the rich by government mandate and redistributing to the poor is still thievery, regardless of who does it.” If government mandates “giving” to others through taxation, the spirit of giving as God intended is totally lost!
What happened to voluntary help for one’s neighbor? I love the historical example of the Amish… if your neighbor’s barn burns down, everyone gathers round and builds him another. This principle is American, but also it is at the core of harmony between church and state, where each, though legally separate, work together for the general welfare of all citizens.
Let’s go a step further, trekker. I can’t figure out why we read nothing about the role of the individual in church and non-profits helping in the plight of those out of work, i.e. the so-called “unemployment compensation” issue. The only answer being considered is to extend government benefits through taxation! As Williams would say, “more thievery”, robbing Peter to pay Paul!
Why not ignite, through political leadership, church and non-profits across America to step in voluntarily to help? And why not promote to those out of work not to look to government as their Christmas Messiah, but to reconnect with church and community for the recognition and fulfillment of needs? And only rich people give a lot, and one reason God blesses certain people is that they might give, and give generously. Recently I was genuinely encouraged when young, 26-year-old entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg, one of the founders of Facebook, gave away 100 million dollars, stating he wanted to do something while he was young and could see the results. Now that is the American way, living out the natural grace of God by a young Jewish, supposedly atheist!
The ability to give is one of the greatest privileges of life. Yet, the more we tax people by government fiat, the less people have to give or even will desire to give over time. We’ll expect others (read government) to do it. Research reveals that homes in which volunteers for charity or church live, give not only time but twice as much money as households with no volunteers.
We give and enjoy giving because He gave. Linked to God’s inexhaustible provision, our ability to give is limitless. The key is being linked with God, trekker! As we “do unto others”, we give back to God! (Matthew 25:31-46 is another awesome giving passage. Check it out.)
Trekker, watch out! As Paul tells the Corinthians, you just might be made rich, so you can be more generous! And remember the story of Zacchaeus… once our heart is changed, we want to give! It is in the believer’s DNA.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends,
Jim Meredith