A Journey of Generosity
In Matthew 2, the Magi are inspired to follow a star. Their journey leads them to a newborn baby who is to be King of the Jews. The journey ends in Bethlehem where they find Jesus. And what do they do when they find him? They are taken to their knees in worship. And as a joyful expression of their worship, they generously present Jesus with gifts.
Unfortunately, we have allowed Christmas to focus on the consumption of gifts rather than the practice of generosity. How can we make Christmas a deeper worshipful experience and the beginning of a lifelong journey of generosity?
Don’t be consumed by consumerism. A friend told me recently with tongue in cheek, “You know it’s Halloween when they start displaying Christmas stuff at Walmart.” It is the lure of hyper-consumerism that drives Christmas today. Guard against allowing the celebration of Christmas to be a frenzied activity of buying things. Make a commitment to celebrate Christmas with a refreshing spirit of generosity.
Grow in the grace of giving. I remember a mission trip I led as a youth minister. Our teens were challenged and inspired by the need of those they were serving. One boy felt God leading him to give a monetary gift to help them. He shared this with some friends, who made the decision to join him in giving their own gifts. From there, they challenged the entire youth group to join them even if it meant sacrificing “fun money”. The youth group gave nearly $1000. In 2 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul writes, “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving … “. Make this Christmas season an opportunity to grow in the grace of giving.
Learn from those who practice generosity. If you do not know where to begin in the journey of generosity, take time to learn from those who practice generosity—not just as a seasonal venture, but as a consistent spiritual discipline. In becoming a generous person, your actions will teach others to live a life of generosity.
The wisdom of Proverbs 18:16 says, “A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.” May your journey of generosity bring you to your knees in worship this Christmas season and beyond, to give and receive the generous love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate again.
Nick Davis, Director of Advancement
