It's that time of year again! The holidays are upon us once more, and they tend to bring out the best and worst in us. Materialism is at an annual high, but so is generosity. People spend exorbitant amounts of money on things they don't need, but they also volunteer at soup kitchens. We look forward to getting gifts, but we also love seeing the expressions on the faces of our family members as they open up their presents on Christmas morning. It's a busy, relaxing, hectic, dreadful, wonderful time of year!
For many of us, it's a time when we would like to be more generous, but we just don't know if we can afford it. We feel compelled to give as we are reminded that there are many who have less than we do, but we feel like we are stretching the budget as it is. We want to help, but our resources are thin. What can we do? One of the things that we often forget is that the most valuable resource we have is ourselves. You may not have much money, but you have time and energy, and those are often way more important to others than your money. Money plays an important role in our society, of course, but just throwing a couple of bucks in the red pail outside the grocery store is far less impactful than spending a few minutes helping or encouraging someone in need.
This is why it is so important to develop talents and skills. Here in America we focus primarily on the monetary value of acquiring a skill. We learn to play music so we can get rich and famous. We learn to work on cars or computers so that we can make a living. Having skills in order to make a living is important, but the Bible tells us that we are to use our gifts to bless other people, and not just ourselves. Some of the people I respect most are those who are always willing to lend a helping hand, even when it costs them something. So what can you do to help other people? Can you make a meal or help them build something? Can you grow food in your garden or play music? Can you teach them something new or help them move? Can you comfort them or make them laugh? How can you meet their needs? "Stuff" is not the most important thing in the world. Sure, donating money to a shelter or toys to a toy drive is great, but we need to go beyond that. Using our financial resources to bless others is actually a spiritual gift, but physical possessions can only go so far. People need spiritual, emotional, and mental blessings as well. People need us.
Giving of ourselves to others is the purest way that we can imitate God. God had no shortage of resources, but He gave Himself. The second person of the Trinity became incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ and gave His life for His people. "Greater love hath no man than this," said our Savior, "that a man lay down his life for his friends." He not only spoke these words--He lived them. Why did He do this? Because nothing else would do. There was nothing else in the world as valuable as His life and death. No other currency this world has to offer could pay the debt we owed, so He gave Himself. When we give ourselves--our time, energy, talents, etc.--we imitate our Savior and obey His command. Though our lives could never be worth as much as His, we can bless those around us by mirroring His love. We can even take it a step further. By reflecting Christ we proclaim the Gospel, which means that our lives have redemptive value, although in a different way than Christ's, of course.
So this Christmas, and every day of the year, give yourself to other people. That is the best way to honor the true meaning of the holiday. You may not have much to give, but you have yourself. Find a way to use who you are and what you can do to benefit other people. Be a resource!
For many of us, it's a time when we would like to be more generous, but we just don't know if we can afford it. We feel compelled to give as we are reminded that there are many who have less than we do, but we feel like we are stretching the budget as it is. We want to help, but our resources are thin. What can we do? One of the things that we often forget is that the most valuable resource we have is ourselves. You may not have much money, but you have time and energy, and those are often way more important to others than your money. Money plays an important role in our society, of course, but just throwing a couple of bucks in the red pail outside the grocery store is far less impactful than spending a few minutes helping or encouraging someone in need.
This is why it is so important to develop talents and skills. Here in America we focus primarily on the monetary value of acquiring a skill. We learn to play music so we can get rich and famous. We learn to work on cars or computers so that we can make a living. Having skills in order to make a living is important, but the Bible tells us that we are to use our gifts to bless other people, and not just ourselves. Some of the people I respect most are those who are always willing to lend a helping hand, even when it costs them something. So what can you do to help other people? Can you make a meal or help them build something? Can you grow food in your garden or play music? Can you teach them something new or help them move? Can you comfort them or make them laugh? How can you meet their needs? "Stuff" is not the most important thing in the world. Sure, donating money to a shelter or toys to a toy drive is great, but we need to go beyond that. Using our financial resources to bless others is actually a spiritual gift, but physical possessions can only go so far. People need spiritual, emotional, and mental blessings as well. People need us.
Giving of ourselves to others is the purest way that we can imitate God. God had no shortage of resources, but He gave Himself. The second person of the Trinity became incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ and gave His life for His people. "Greater love hath no man than this," said our Savior, "that a man lay down his life for his friends." He not only spoke these words--He lived them. Why did He do this? Because nothing else would do. There was nothing else in the world as valuable as His life and death. No other currency this world has to offer could pay the debt we owed, so He gave Himself. When we give ourselves--our time, energy, talents, etc.--we imitate our Savior and obey His command. Though our lives could never be worth as much as His, we can bless those around us by mirroring His love. We can even take it a step further. By reflecting Christ we proclaim the Gospel, which means that our lives have redemptive value, although in a different way than Christ's, of course.
So this Christmas, and every day of the year, give yourself to other people. That is the best way to honor the true meaning of the holiday. You may not have much to give, but you have yourself. Find a way to use who you are and what you can do to benefit other people. Be a resource!
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