A SEASON OF GIFTS by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 25, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 52.

A SEASON OF GIFTS.

By Editor

For What Will You Give?

THIS is a season of gift-giving and receiving. Few indeed there are but that expect to receive something during Christmas-tide, and very many indeed expect to give.

Most of these gifts will be given from impulse and affection. Many will give to discharge obligations. Some one has given to them; they must give in return, or—a half dozen things might be thought or said. Many give to others, hoping to receive more. Many give to loved ones because of fond love, finding joy in the giving and the pleasure of the receiver. Many give to those who are needy as well; but few indeed are they who give solely because of that.

The motives above indicated, save the last, are largely selfish. They are in harmony with the pagan origin of the great December festival. Millions of dollars will be given this month by Christians, and much of it foolishly, for gifts which bring no joy to the possessor or good to the world. Fortunes will be spent in feasting and drinking, and the fruits will be gluttony, indigestion, sickness, remorse, depraved dispositions, licentiousness, and drunkenness.

We wish to present before our readers, our brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus, a better plan. It will call for self-denial, but that was the very basis of Christ’s work for us, and it is the only true basis of all Christian character. It will mean radical change, but as long as it is for the better, make it. It may not be so joyous in the doing, but it will yield the peaceable, joyous fruit of righteousness. Let these thoughts dominate:—

“The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:28.

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, tho He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.

Think of the poor and needy ones all around you, whose cheerless houses many times know not even the barest necessities of life. All these houses (we can not say homes) are Christ’s opportunities to every one of His children. It is their privilege to carry the sunshine of Christ into these places, and plead, and pray, and hope that He may be retained there. Think of the millions in heathen lands who are enslaved in superstition, idolatry, and the blackness of sin, who know not the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of the bondage of the millions of women in India. Think of the children dying through neglect and ignorance. If the needless gifts of Christendom were this year truly consecrated to this work, what a great wave of light and blessing would break over the cheerless, dark places of this world! O that the church of God could see the blessing in this opportunity! She would realize the truth of the Master’s words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Seventh-day Adventists are calling for liberal gifts in this season of giving. Their Foreign Mission Board desires from among the 70,000 members one thousand additional missionaries and one hundred thousand dollars; but God asks more than this. He desires among these, 70,000 missionaries, and the consecration of their all to the cause of God.

Surely, in view of the great demands from Christ our King, the Foreign Mission Board should not be disappointed.

In view of what Christ has wrought for every soul, ought not this Christmas-tide to bring more blessing to the poor and needy than ever before? Love is measured by love’s giving.