A Season for Giving?

Here we are; deep in the Christmas season. The lights, the decorations, the crowds, the bell ringers, the bulging shopping carts, the gift-wrap, the parties…. They are all around us. This is the season for giving…. Or is it?

 

My own research, weak as it may be, shows that about 20-25% of all giving takes place during the month of December. That leaves about 7% for each of the other months of the year.  Why is this? Well, two of the biggest reasons are “Christmas” and “Taxes”. Many charitable gifts are given during December in order for the givers to have the ability to claim a tax exemption on those gifts within the current tax year. Makes sense, but is that the reason we should give? Others give at Christmas out of a sense of responsibility and the fear of appearing stingy amongst those with whom they celebrate the holiday. I think most of us have given, at one time or another,out of a sense of obligation. Have you ever walked past one of the bell-ringers at the supermarket entrance while trying not to make eye contact? Do we feel guilty when we don’t give? Is that a reason we should give?

 

Let’s take it a step farther. A dear friend took to Facebook this week, wondering if she was the only one going into “semi-panic mode” over the idea that people may not like the Christmas gifts she was about to give them. Another was worried about the idea of “spending fairly”. The entire string of comments addressed the fears and pressures that tend to come with the act of giving gifts at Christmas. However, common as these fears are, they are usually self-inflicted.

 

We are mandated by God to give good gifts to one another, the poor, the sick, widows and orphans. However, this mandate is NOT for the benefit of the recipients of such gifts. Jesus himself declared that we will always have the poor (John 12:8). This suggests to me that giving to the poor is not for the purpose of eliminating poverty on the earth. No, we are to give for our OWN sake…. for the benefit of our own souls. It’s all about the condition of our own hearts. When you give gifts, bear in mind that the affect that the gift has on the recipient is secondary and should be regarded as such.

“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life” – 1Timothy 6:18-19

If you give a gift with good intention, and the recipient is disappointed in the gift, then the flaw is in them. He who keeps books on gift-giving is marred with greed.So give freely. Don’t be stressed in your giving. For, God loves a cheerful giver. Merry Christmas to all of you, and may you be overwhelmed with God’s blessings.