With Thanksgiving now behind us, it’s officially the Christmas season. It is a time for rejoicing and worshiping and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the season for giving.
It is certainly the most wonderful time of the year — or it least it should be. With all of the merchandise on sale, advertised, and available with a simple click or swipe, it seems the idea of giving has been overshadowed by the pressure of “gifting” and the hunger for “getting.”
Presents are more lavish and demands more extravagant. Black Friday shopping has practically become an Olympic sport that is not for the faint of heart or wallet. It’s so big it now starts on or even before Thanksgiving Day. Then the consumerism continues with Cyber Monday and an onslaught of online offers.
And as often and miraculously happens amid chaos, hope is quietly born. A fresh perspective comes out of the harshness of greed.
“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.”
In 2012, Giving Tuesday began as a balance to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It falls on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and encourages giving, donating, and acts of kindness. There is plenty of support from nonprofits, as well as individual focus on a chance to “pay it forward.”
With the intense burden that comes with the “buy, buy, buy” mentality, it is refreshing to give. And the giving doesn’t have to be monetary. The greatest gift cannot be bought or sold, of course. As 1 Thessalonians 2:8 says, “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.”
Time and talent are precious gifts that will be remembered long after the wrapping paper has been discarded. The gift of self is invaluable and eternal.
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Christians exchange gifts at Christmas to remember the gift of God’s one and only Son. We remember the gift of the shepherds’ awestruck adoration and the wise men’s valuable offerings. The treasures that we impart should be precious — but not necessarily lavish in cost.
We are stewards of God’s riches. The physical gifts He chooses to bestow on us and the possessions He provides are meant to be managed with generosity and wisdom. This is the time of year that affords opportunity to share the abundance of God’s great goodness, but doesn’t require massive credit card bills.
Acts 20:35 says, “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
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Why is it more blessed to give than to receive? Because the natural, human desire is for more — to want more, need more, attain more. Whatever it is, our hearts and minds fixate on the possession itself until it is finally received and leaves us unfulfilled. Possessions and people, apart from Christ, are not satisfying — they actually leave us more ravenous.
In the wisdom of our Creator, Jesus encouraged us to give. We give because it is a demonstration of God’s great love, an example of His grace, a testimony to His goodness. When we give, we want to give more because we receive His blessing in return.
On this Giving Tuesday, let’s fixate our hearts on the “reason for the season” — not on conquering the best deal or attaining the perfect present. Don’t let the roar of consumerism drown out the joy of giving. Instead, find a way to share not only the Good News, but your life as well. Write a note to a friend or family member who needs encouragement. Volunteer your time with an organization you admire. Share an hour with someone who is lonely. This is how to truly celebrate and share in the spirit of Christmas.
Katie Nations, married for 15 years, is a writer and mother of three in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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