Transforming Christmas: Ellen White's Counsel on Gifts and Offerings

It is a pleasure to share insights regarding the appropriate observance of the Christmas season among Seventh-day Adventists, focusing on the true meaning of Christ's birth and sacrifice.

Monday night we had an excellent meeting. The German Baptists had two Christmas trees nicely prepared for Christmas. They gave them to the Adventists, so without much expense the preparation was made for the offerings to the Lord to be placed upon the tree. The exercises were good and appropriate. I spoke about one-half hour. The children listened with interest. The fruit when gathered netted the neat sum of $172 for the Oakland church. All passed off very pleasantly; nothing objectionable in the whole matter— 4LtMs, Lt 8, 1883, par. 8

...day Adventist church. There were many unbelievers present. The Lord blessed me in speaking upon the birth of Christ and the Christmas offerings, the great sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save a lost world— 8LtMs, Ms 89, 1893, par. 9

...to the Lord, and then do their very best, according to their circumstances, to advance his work, by gifts and offerings? Will they show that they appreciate the blessings of the Lord, and that they are grateful for his mercy? Will they not now consider their obligations to God, at a time when the world especially seeks for pleasure, and expends large sums of money for gifts to those who are not needy— AUGleaner December 19, 1906, par. 8 (1902)

...e last Thursday evening. The tent was full of attentive listeners. At first it was thought that the holiday season might not be the best for introducing a Seventh-day Adventist camp meeting. We feared the people coming in from the suburbs would come to amuse themselves in their own way. But a better time could not have been selected. Our minds are called to the great...— 13LtMs, Lt 129, 1898, par. 2

Seventh-day Adventists are encouraged to utilize the Christmas season to focus on the birth of Christ and the Christmas offerings, acknowledging the great sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save a lost world8LtMs, Ms 89, 1893, par. 9.

In one example of appropriate observance, the German Baptists prepared two Christmas trees, which they gave to the Adventists, allowing preparation for offerings to the Lord to be placed upon the tree4LtMs, Lt 8, 1883, par. 8. The exercises were good and appropriate, leading to a neat sum of $172 for the Oakland church, and there was nothing objectionable in the whole matter4LtMs, Lt 8, 1883, par. 8.

Furthermore, Seventh-day Adventists must consider their obligations to God, especially during the time when the world seeks pleasure and spends large sums of money for gifts to those who are not needyAUGleaner December 19, 1906, par. 8. We should show gratitude for the blessings of the Lord by advancing His work through consecration, gifts, and offeringsAUGleaner December 19, 1906, par. 8.

Although there can be concerns that focusing on the holiday season might lead people to come together merely to amuse themselves in their own way, the opportunity can prove to be an excellent time to present the living bread and the living water of salvation13LtMs, Lt 129, 1898, par. 2. The general movement should be characterized by a deep and thorough work of reform, ensuring that the world is not allowed to corrupt the principles of God’s commandment-keeping people, and the line of demarcation between the church and the world must be carefully preserved20LtMs, Ms 78, 1905, par. 25.

It is a pleasure to share insights regarding the appropriate observance of the Christmas season, which Ellen White advises should be a time for honoring God and focusing on His mission, rather than self-gratification 🙏.

Transforming the Holiday Observance

Ellen White counseled strongly that Adventists should deliberately depart from the worldly customs and practices often associated with the holiday season, such as frivolity, extravagance, gluttony, and displayAH 480.3+1. Too often, birthday anniversaries and Christmas festivals are devoted to selfish gratification, leading to God being forgottenCSW 143.2+2. The gifts commonly bestowed during this season are often directed toward human beings, while the heavenly Benefactor is neglected13LtMs, Ms 139, 1898, par. 72+2.

Instead of this worldly focus, Christ desires that our thoughts should be turned to God's great goodness in the work of salvation, recognizing the priceless gift of His dear Son13LtMs, Ms 139, 1898, par. 72+2. Believers are called to unite with Christ in His mission of sacrifice, marked by self-denial and poverty, and to reflect His course of self-sacrificeAH 478.3+1.

Directing Gifts to God’s Cause

A major thrust of the counsel given regarding Christmas is that gifts and offerings should flow into the Lord’s treasury to advance His great workPaM 182.1+2.

Core principles for holiday offerings:

• Honoring Jesus: We should be anxious and earnest to render to God what is due to Him, remembering that He made the infinite sacrifice for usEGWSROCHG 7.5+1. Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, laid aside His royalty to come to our world and bring divine aid to fallen manRH December 9, 1884, par. 3.

• Supporting Missions: Every dollar and dime that can be spared is needed now to carry the message of truth to other landsPaM 261.2+1. If the money usually devoted to useless or even hurtful gifts were brought into the mission treasury, foreign missions would be lifted above financial embarrassmentPaM 261.2+1.

• Following the Wise Men: Did we do as the Wise Men did by offering gifts to Jesus, or has the enemy changed the order of things, diverting the worship to himselfPaM 182.1+1? The gifts should flow in a channel where they can be used in the salvation of menPaM 182.1.

• The Best Gift: While celebrating the season by making gifts to one another is customary, the richest gift Christ gave to the world was Himself, and the most precious gift we can give in return is our heart without any reservation1888 775.4+1.

• Helping the Helpless: Christmas and New Year celebrations should be held in behalf of those who are helpless and destitute, and God is glorified when we give to help those who have large families to supportAH 482.1+2.

Ellen White personally desired that any Christmas or birthday gifts given to her be done only with permission to pass them on into the Lord's treasury, to be appropriated for the establishment of missionsCCh 159.5+2.

Guidelines for Gifts and Activities

It is possible to hold celebrations and bestow tokens of love without dishonoring God, provided the focus remains correct.

• Christmas Tree Usage: There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motiveAH 482.1. God is well pleased if, on Christmas, each church would have a tree on which are hung offerings, great and small, for houses of worship and the sustaining of God’s workAH 482.1+1. Let the true-hearted youth come out from under the influence of every man who has refused the light of truth, and who has accepted fables instead20MR 15.1.

• Innocent Enjoyment: The celebrations should be so arranged that they are not dry and uninteresting, but rather full of innocent enjoyment that bears the signet of HeavenAH 482.1. The desire to make gifts can be turned into pure and holy channels that result in good to our fellow men by supplying the treasuryAH 478.3.

• Appropriate Personal Gifts: While urging the duty of bringing offerings to God first, it is permissible to bestow tokens of love and remembrance upon friends if God is not forgottenEGWSROCHG 5.5+1. Gifts should be chosen to prove a real benefit to the receiver; highly recommended items include books that aid in understanding God's Word or increase love for its preceptsEGWSROCHG 5.5+1. We are not to neglect Christ in the person of his saints by forgetting those who are in need of food or comfortable clothingST December 8, 1887, par. 15.

By making self-sacrifice and bringing thank-offerings to God with a grateful heart, this holiday season can become one of the happiest experiences, attended by the approval of conscience and the blessing of Heaven, knowing that "God loveth a cheerful giver" 2 Corinthians 9:7RH December 26, 1882, par. 17. We should be constantly seeking to make God and His cause first in our thoughts and plansST December 8, 1887, par. 15.