ADVENT CONSPIRACY
FOUR WORDS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR CHRISTMAS: GIVE
JOHN 1:1-3, 14 AND MATTHEW 2:1-11
Big Idea: Christmas will be different when our giving is different; relational, personal, and sacrificial.
Supporting Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 82:3-4; Psalm 112:4-5; Isaiah 58:1-11; Matthew 10:42, Matthew 25:40; Luke 6:49; Luke 12:47-48; John 1:1-3, 14; 2 Corinthians 9:15
INTRO
There is something about the word generosity that gets everyone’s attention. Even the Scroogiest amongst us are touched when we see authentic generosity. It touches us deep because it shows the best of humanity and as a people of faith it reflects the very character of God.
Generosity is a term that, when used properly, should define Christmas. It certainly defines God’s gift of His son. It is a time for us to also be generous. We do not have to be reincarnations of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Speaking of Scrooge – would you watch this clip from “A Christmas Carol”? It is the interaction between Scrooge and The Ghost of Christmas Present. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LL-MxDFotw
Last week we talked about overreaching. We talked about hyper-consumerism, debt and frenzy. But this week we need to strike a holy balance to pushing back by talking about THE HOW, WHY, AND WHAT OF GIVING AT CHRISTMAS.
You see, the third word that will give you the Christmas you’ve always longed for is: GIVE.
I want to read two passages to you that I think help us grasp the HOW, WHY, AND WHAT OF GIVING AT CHRISTMAS.
JOHN 1:1-3, 14 (KJV)
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
MATTHEW 2:1-11 (NIV)
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
SERMON
At first glance you may not see much similarity between these two passages but I want to suggest that together they give us a very clear indication of the HOW, WHY, AND WHAT OF GIVING AT CHRISTMAS.
I think both of these passages help us grasp how we can, this Christmas, not be Scrooges. We can be “pro-gift giving” this Christmas. We can reflect and give as God gave us His “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
LET ME OFFER THREE GUIDES TO HELP US WITH THE HOW, WHY, AND WHAT OF GIVING AT CHRISTMAS.
1) YOUR GIVING SHOULD INCLUDE “THE LEAST OF THESE”
Think back with me to the video clip from “A Christmas Carol.”
Did you catch the gist of it? The ghost was showing Scrooge two emaciated children named “Want” and “Ignorance.” They represented “the least of these”; those that Scrooge had long excused, judged and ignored. He said things like,
• “They should get a job”
• “They should get a good education and pull themselves up by their own boot straps.”
• “We have orphanages for those kind.”
• “Its their own fault.”
These, and similar sayings, excuse Scrooge from any responsibility. But really what it did was heap responsibility on him. His very words were used in judgment of him.
In the book Dickens has a line describing Scrooge that says, “Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it.” You see, rather than ignoring the “Want” and “Ignorance”, Scrooge could/should have been part of the solution! He could have met genuine need. He had the opportunity and the resources to do so. He chose, however, to remain in the darkness and allow those with want and ignorance to suffer.
The ghost shows Scrooge that the obligation to help people lies with him. Squarely with him!
You see church. The solution to “want” and ignorance” lies with us!
Psalm 112:4-5 says, “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”
We are to feed the hungry not rationalize and excuse ourselves because of their lack of industry. We are to impart knowledge and skill not be aloof. You can rationalize all you want but someday we will stand at the judgment bar of God and give an account for how we treated people. You cannot read the sermons of Jesus or the writings of Scripture and come to any other conclusion.
Deuteronomy 15:11 says, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
Psalm 82:3-4 says, “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
We cannot be more like Christ that when we are stooping to help others. Is that not exactly what he did for us? What if God had said, “They got into this mess on their own let them get themselves out of it”? If God said that we’d all be in hell!
Luke 12:48 says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
This Christmas we can ignore “the least of these” if we want but in doing so we strip Christmas of its potential and meaning. When God gave us Jesus (John 1) God was giving to “the least of these;” those that definitely brought their plight on themselves. Those that were reaping what they had sown. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Never forget what Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40).
The water project is a great way for you to give to the least of these this year.
• People you will never meet until eternity
• People who you cannot get any reciprocation from
• People who have a very specific need that YOU can help meet
• People who desperately need the Gospel and good water
Jesus said, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).
1) YOUR GIVING SHOULD INCLUDE “THE LEAST OF THESE”
2) YOUR GIVING SHOULD BE PERSONAL AND RELATIONAL
Have you ever seen the episode of “Friends” where Joey and Chandler wait too long to buy Christmas gifts? They end up having to buy gifts from a gas station.
They give Rachael wiper blades and an air freshener. When Rachel reminds them that she does not even own a car Joey says, “Well, now you can pretend you do!”
In a similar manner I have a friend that actually gave his wife a wiring harness for her Dodge Durango as a gift. That way he could pull a trailer with it. Really!
Have you ever paid much attention to the gifts that the magi gave at the manger? Have you everp paid much attention to the words of the song “We three Things?” I am sure you have and I am sure you understand that, similar to God’s gift of his son, the magi’s gifts were personal and relational.
The Magi presented Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts were very prophetic for they spoke of the person and purpose of Jesus – they illustrated his office of King, Priest, and Savior.
GOLD is precious and valuable in every culture and time. It
