This is the week of Christmas. When I think of Christmas, I first think of Jesus coming as a baby. I then meditate upon why he came. In Matthew 1:21 it tells us that Mary had a son and they should call Him Jesus; for “He will save His people from their sins.”
All Mighty God loved the “world so much, He gave His only begotten Son” John 3:16. That speaks of love and love always gives. Love never takes for itself but always gives.
What about us this Christmas? Do we have the spirit of giving or a spirit of getting? At the core of a spirit of giving is LOVE. 1 Cor 14:1 in the New Living Translation it tells us to make love our highest goal. “1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Is love our highest goal? At the base of every man, woman or child is also a character trait called self.
Now self is very selfish, wanting what it wants, getting jealous of what others have. That is not the spirit of Christ
R.W.D. of Our Daily Bread - When we have the opportunity to contribute to some worthy Christian cause, may we do so with the right purpose in mind. We should never give just because we feel obligated to organizations or persons, nor because we desire to receive selfish recognition or reward. The apostle Paul said, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). We should honestly say, “It’s for the Lord!”
Submitted by Pastor Steve
