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CHRISTMAS GIVING

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 24, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 52.

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“CHRISTMAS GIVING.”

To Whom Shall We Give?

IF “Christmas” day means any good thing to us in a religious or truly thankful sense, it must mean it because of its association with the gift of Jesus Christ for the world. If we recognize His gift, it ought to mean in us large-hearted response.
Let us consider for a little time a brief catechism upon the subject.
1. Who is the great Giver of all?—“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17.
2. What all-inclusive gift did He bestow?—“His only-begotten Son.” John 3:16.
3. For whom did He give Him?—For “all,” for “the world,” therefore for me.
4. Who shared in this gift?—The Son, “who gave Himself for us.” Titus 2:14.
5. For what purpose was the gift?—“That He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14); that we might be sons and daughters of God (Gal. 4:4, 5).
6. For how long was the gift?—Forever—for “eternal redemption.” Heb. 9:12; 7:25.
7. How often and where effectual?—Always and everywhere.
8. How often and where should we recognize it?—Always and everywhere.
9. To how many does it make us debtor?—To all needy ones.
10. Give two examples of this.—“I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” Rom. 1:14. This includes all missionary work, home and foreign.
“When thou makest a dinner or a supper [or givest gifts], call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast [or givest gifts], bid [remember] the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.” Luke 14:12, 13.
11. What is the result of such giving?—“And thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14.
Let these thoughts come home to every Christian reader in these days of Saturnalian feasting, revelry, and selfish indulgence; in these days when gifts as often as otherwise provoke envy and strife. Let the giving be in recognition of Him whose gifts you can never repay. Let it be for those for whom He paid the same purchase-price as for you, and whom He loves as truly as He does you. Let it be—if they are in darkness—to bring to them the light and joy of eternal salvation. Let the giving be—if they are poor and needy—to minister to their needs, and so bring joy to your own heart. Give freely, give wisely, give liberally; for “God loveth a cheerful giver; and God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all-sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:7, 8.