December 2005
It's that time of year for giving again!
It is amazing to think that the Christmas Season is almost upon us once again. We are all into the shopping mode now with many gifts bought and maybe some even wrapped and ready for the big day.
However, I often think about the motive behind the gift and wonder why we are involved in buying presents for one another. Some may be bought out of tradition, you see, "we always buy gifts for each other at Christmas". Or maybe we do it out of kindness, knowing that the recipient will not be expecting much this year. Then of course there are those gifts chosen, bought and presented to the ones we love a a token of the feelings we have for them.
Of course the reason for the season would remind us of a gift given in love, for the Bible says "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
As we think about the Christmas story recorded for us in the Bible we find that it is filled with gifts being given. A Saviour is given to the world, the angel brings news of a Son to be given to Mary and the wise men bring gifts of gold, frankincense and Myrrh as they are seeking the Saviour.
One of the carols we sing would as us the question "What can I give Him, poor as I am?" Let us never forget that the reason the Son of God was given to this world, in love, was to "Save His people from their sins" (the wrong things we do from day to day in our lives). He has been given as a gift and through Him you and I can have eternal life. However, the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ must first be received by faith. What can I give Him this Christmas? "Give my heart".
The Importance of the Son
As the festive season comes around once again, I wonder how many times we will hear people say that we have forgotten the Christ of Christmas? It is so easy to get taken up with all the preparations, decorations and celebrations that we forget the central character to the whole event.
Many years ago an old farmer died and the executors of the estate were instructed to auction off the land and assets of the farm as the rest of the family, including the farmers son, had all passed away.
The farm was a substantial size and there was great interest in the auction from far and wide. Many people turned up on the day with cash in hand seeking to gain a bargain from the various lots that were offered.
As soon as everyone was seated in the auction arena, the auctioneer opened the proceedings. Each person there had in mind the items they were looking to get and waited with anticipation. The first words of the auctioneer were greeted with an embarrassed silence as held up a small tatty photograph and asked for someone to open the bidding on this first lot. Several people in the crowd smiled while others looked around impatiently. Still no-one would offer a price.
After a considerable amount of time a weathered hand arose in the crowd. It was the old gardener who had worked on the farm for many years and recognised the picture of the farmers only son. He offered the auctioneer five pounds for the photo simply out of fondness for the farmer and his only son. No-one would increase the bid and the hammer fell.
The auctioneer then informed the crowd of the instructions left by the farmer. "When auctioning my farm please deal with the photo of my son first. For whoever will honour my son will receive all I can give." The auctioneer stood up, announced that the auction was over and that everything was bound up in the memory of the Son. The gardener had accepted the Son and received much more than he expected.
At this time of the year when we seem so interested in what possessions and gifts we can receive, let us remember that without the Saviour we have nothing for the future.
"For unto us
a child is born,
Unto us
a Son is Given"
Isaiah 9:6
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