Day 4: Giving Gifts

We love getting gifts, and some of us might even love giving gifts. Many will cite this to be the best part of the holiday, but have you ever asked yourself why we're giving each other gifts? Who started that trend and why is one gift not enough?

On the 4^th Day of Christmas, Corporations Convinced Us We Needed Lots of Gifts

Introduction

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Bill Davenport

The gifts we give are connected to the fact that the wise men brought gifts to God, or at least that's what every preacher or Sunday school teacher I asked as a child claimed. If we are mimicking the fact that the magi gave gifts to Jesus, why are we giving gifts to each other? Well, I've had people use the "Jesus lives inside of us" to justify the gift giving. So are we giving gifts to God each year when buy presents for our friends and family?
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Birthdays

I touched on birthdays in Day 2: The Origin of December 25. By studying the word, it is obvious that birthday celebrations were considered of pagan origin. Giving gifts to someone for their birthday is not a tradition mandated by God. The wise men brought gifts to Jesus, though we are not told how old He is when they arrive. Many assume they arrive right after He is born, but after learning the wise men are seeking Him, King Herod has all males under 2 years old killed. This suggests that a great deal of time may have passed between Jesus' birth and the wise men's arrival. Regardless, they brought Jesus gifts because He is the Messiah! It says nothing about them bring Mary and Joseph gifts. There is no documentation that the disciples started exchanging gifts in honor of Jesus—it is contrary to His teachings. This tradition is man made, pagan, rooted in Santa Claus, and serves to make companies rich. Wouldn't it make more sense to give something to God that day?
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Gifts For God

³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? ⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.Matthew 25:34-40 KJV

Jesus does say that when we do for His followers ("brethren") that we are doing for Him. Yet, if you look at the examples Jesus gives, none of this suggests the gift giving nature of Christmas. The list of "gifts" Jesus proclaims His saints gave deal with helping someone in need. He was hungry—which only occurs when you don't have food—and we gave Him food; He was thirsty—again implying He didn't have something to drink—and we gave Him something to drink. Most of the gifts given at Christmas are thinks we want not things we need. How many people use the holiday season to buy food for the homeless people in their community? Pay the electric bill for the needy so they don't freeze (most companies offer this option, you simply check a box and add the amount you want to donate to your bill)? People put themselves in debt trying to impress their spouse or "give their child a good Christmas." That doesn't seem to be what Jesus is suggesting we do...

There are passages in the Bible in which God mentions giving gifts (such as a dowry or when Jacob sends gifts to seek mercy and forgiveness from Esau), but there are also warning about gifts. In Exodus 23:8, we are told not to take gifts that would cloud our judgment when we are in decision making positions. More relevantly, pertaining to the end times (the age we live in), we are told that when the 2 witnesses are killed, people will rejoice and send gifts to each other.^[1] When gifts are mentioned positively, they almost always involve us giving gifts directly to God or receiving gifts from God.

In general, I see nothing wrong with getting things for people. The issue is motive and tradition. Are you giving a gift to help this person? Are you thinking about God? Are you able to give? Or are you doing this out of habit? Are you giving because you want to receive, because you think they will expect a gift? Are you following pagan and man made traditions? This changes everything. We are not to worry about metarial things because our rewards are in heaven, which means we shouldn't be asking for things we don't need, let alone a mountain of presents.

¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.Matthew 6:19-21 KJV

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References

1. Revelation 11:10