The Perfect Gift

Christmas Message – The perfect gift

Luke 2:8-11

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Now that the festive season is here and if you were at the shopping malls during this season, I am sure that we have noticed people buying a lot of things.

Not only where they buying things, but they were buying things in huge quantities.

The reason we see so many people buying things in huge quantities is because they want to give them away as gifts.

Right before the festive season stores had specials, discounts, sales and all kinds of things. Why because they know not only finding the right price is important, but it is also important to find the right gift.

Why are so many people concerned about finding the right gift?

There are certain things that a gift can convey:

1. The gift can represent the giver’s social, economic or moral status. Example:

If the gift is a very expensive gift the we would think that the one giving the gift is rich and has a lot of money.

If the gift is a religious gift, we would think that the person giving the gift is a religious person and goes to church.

So we see that a gift can tell us about the social or economic status of the giver.

2. Second, a gift can represent the value and importance that the one giving the gift has toward the one who is receiving the gift.

If I have a high value on the relationship of the one I am purchasing the gift for, it will usually show up in the gift.

3. A gift can also be given to strengthen or restore a relationship. It can be a symbol of good will.

We see this in Genesis 32:20 - 20 And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me

Jacob selected certain gifts to be given to his brother to pacify his anger and try to restore their broken relationship.

What can determine if the gift is right or not?

1. Some determine if the gift is perfect by the value of the gift.

Some feel the more expensive the gift the more chance it has of being the right gift.

2. Some determine if the gift is the perfect by the motive of the giver.

Some people feel it doesn’t matter how much the gift cost, but if the motive behind the gift is love then that’s all that matter to me.

Quote: A gift given out of Love

Some time ago, a story goes that a man punished his 3-year old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and gave it to him. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box empty.

He yelled at her telling her that there must be something in the box for it to be a gift. The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, “Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you Daddy.”

It wasn’t the value of the gift that made the difference, but the motive in which the gift was given.

Some people feel as long as the gift is given out of love, then that is the perfect gift for me.

3. Some people determine if a gift is perfect, by if it meets a certain need.

Some feel that even though the gift may not be expensive, but as long as it meets a certain need that is the perfect gift for me.

After all what good is it to have a very expensive gift that you can’t use?

How many know Jesus is the perfect gift?

Not only did He have the greatest value, not only was the gift given out of the best motive, but Jesus met our greatest need.

Let’s take a look at these 3 and then we will be done.