- Philippians 2:4
We
are now officially in what has been called “the season of giving,” with
Christmas less than a month away. From now until December 25th, mall
parking lots will be full of shoppers’ cars, Amazon.com will be America’s homepage,
and TV commercials will be collages of green and red—all because this is the
month when we earnestly seek out the best possible gifts for our family members
and friends. Yet for all of the attention we pay to giving presents, sometimes
the stress of the season precludes us from giving much else.
Give
a Saturday morning to serve at a homeless shelter? Wish I could, but I set this
day aside to decorate the house. Give a love offering for the needy? Nope, I’ve
already blown my budget on presents. Give a free night of babysitting to the
overworked single mom down the street? Sorry, but I’ve got my own family to
take care of. Too often the activities and obligations that come with the “season
of giving” make us miss chances to help those who could use our gifts most of all.
Philippians
2:4 reminds us that as Christians, we are called to look first not to our own
interests, but to the interests of others. Ironically, it is especially at
Christmastime that we can lose sight of this message, so overwhelmed are we by
the next present to buy, the next recital to attend. Yet much of Jesus’
ministry to the poor and the sick came “on the way”, as he was headed to a
previously scheduled engagement—it’s an example we would do well to follow as
we celebrate his birth.
This
Christmas season, as your calendar fills up and your stress level rises, let me
encourage you to make room for some unplanned giving. Open your heart and give
of yourself to someone who is not expecting anything from you and will not give
anything in return. After all, nothing says Christmas like an unexpected,
unwarranted gift to someone who hasn’t earned it—sounds a lot like grace to me.
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