ChristmasReading2022A - Flipbook - Page 14
DAY Six: December 03 - Saturday
Give
“…the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’ ” Acts 20:35
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends.” John 15:13
Christmas, for most children, is a me of receiving. Children receive
gi s from friends, family, parents, and most of all, from Santa. Their
Christmas morning centers around a tree with presents at its feet.
And then we grow older. We leave childhood and enter adulthood,
and, for most, a great change happens. The joy of receiving as children
is displaced with an even greater joy of
giving as adults. As adults we s ll love “No one ever
to open a brightly wrapped gi given in
friendship and from someone near and became poor by
dear to our hearts. It s ll delights us.
giving.”
Who doesn’t feel joy being given a gi
from a dear friend whether a pocket
-Anne Frank
knife, scarf, a n of cookies or a book.
Yet, as deligh ul as receiving a gi is, the greater delight is in giving the
gi .
Why is that so? Perhaps there are lots of reasons, but at the center of it
all is that it brings us into the realm of God’s joy. One of the most
frequent descrip ons of God in the Bible is that He is a gracious giver.
He is a gracious giver because He is love (1 John 4:8). The highest
expressions and experiences of love will always include giving. The best
of friendships and marriages will always be marked by graciousness
and generosity. We won’t hold back anything. “No one has ever
become poor by giving” wrote the young Anne Frank. Jesus teaches us
that giving is the path to blessedness.
It is more blessed to give than receive.
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Remember: Tomorrow is our Holiday Harvest special collec on. Holiday
Harvest will bless over ve hundred families this year with food and
gi s. Our goal is to raise $33,000 to fully fund this project.