Putting Generosity On Pause At Christmas

I love being a Christian! And I love the Christmas season! Music, celebration, family, and the focused attention on Jesus Immanuel: God with us. It seems that most Westerners (Americans) love the Christmas season, even the ones who do not know the true meaning of it.

But Christmas is so much more than lights and music. It’s so much more than shopping and gift-giving. It’s so much more than and parties with food & drink. Or is it?

Look at these verses from God’s Word:

• James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress… 
• Luke 14:12-13 “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” (Jesus) said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.”

We tend to focus on our needs, our friends & family, and our fun during the Christmas season. But as you see, we are instructed to look beyond ourselves. And not only during the Christmas season, but all year long.

I recently made this statement in a social media post: Don’t get so busy with Christmas, that you neglect being Christian. Allow me to ask you to go back, re-read, and consider those words.

As Believers, we are called to (and hopefully committed to) caring for the orphans and widows, and ministering to the poor, crippled, lame and blind. But often the busyness of life causes us to move away from our chosen lifestyle of care, compassion, and ministry. We get distracted by the ours in our lives, and forget about the others that God has placed in front of us.

May we set aside our needs, our desires, and our fun during the Christmas season. And may we be consistent all year long in being generous, caring, and ministry-focused, especially to those outside of our regular influence. Lead Well!

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