This season is a time of great joy for many reasons. We celebrate our Savior’s birth, we have the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, and we have the opportunity to give.
And if the opportunity to give isn’t prevalent, I’m not sure what else is. There are signs for sales on gifts of all shapes and sizes around every corner of the internet or your local mall, and there are lists to be made of exactly what gifts to buy. And it’s not like any of this is new, either; it’s been the same way, day in and day out, for years, decades, even.
But here’s the thing: we as Christians should consider not only the importance of the act of giving, but also the way we give. We can give stuff all we want to, but if we’re not aware of how or why we’re giving, it’s just that…stuff. Plus, we can give more than just stuff, and it’s important to remember that.
So, how can we be better givers?
We can be cheerful givers.
We are called to give cheerfully in Scripture; in fact, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). This not only applies to monetary contributions to the church – as we often associate this verse with – but it can also apply to any kind of giving, whether during the holiday season, birthdays, or just because.
If we don’t give cheerfully, it’s not going to come across that you’re being sincere to your recipient, regardless of whether or not you spent money on a present. Your attitude as a giver is important.
While the things we can give can be great, it’s also important to remember to be a cheerful giver of things that aren’t so tangible, such as time, a listening ear, or even service of others. If we make an effort to do so without complaining, it will make a big difference in the lives of both those who receive our gifts and us as givers. If we do this, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
We can be mindful givers.
Not only do we need to give cheerfully, but we also need to be aware of why we’re giving. If we’re just giving because we are told or expected to give, we’re missing the point of giving altogether.
If you do stuff just because you’re told, or just because you have to, it doesn’t feel like anything more than a box to check off your list. Giving to others should be something we should be mindful of; we should consider the person we’re giving to, their situation, and the things they love, among other things.
In Scripture, the gifts that mean the most are the ones that are out of care for the recipient. The three wise men gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus, probably not because they expected Jesus to use them immediately, but because they wanted to honor Jesus and His earthly family (Matthew 2:11). And Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume not because of how expensive the perfume was, but because she wanted to honor Him (John 11:2; John 12:3). As such, we need to keep in mind the reason why we are giving in the first place: to honor the other person or people before ourselves.
We can be gracious givers.
Just as we should be cheerful in and mindful of how we give, we should be gracious, too. But I’m giving, not receiving, you may be telling me, I’m supposed to be thankful that I’m giving? Actually, yes.
Think about where you are right now, whether you’re in school, have a job already, or anywhere else. If you are in a position to be able to give anything at all – even if it’s not an object – you should be thankful that you can do so. Having the ability to give is something that we as Christians should not take for granted, and because of that, we should be simultaneously thankful and unafraid to be generous and give to others in whatever capacity we can.
At the end of the day, the fact that we are giving – or even considering giving – means that we are considering others before ourselves. But, dear readers, there’s so much more to it than just buying something and giving it to a person. It’s the thought, compassion, and cheerfulness behind the gift – no matter what that gift may be – that truly counts. And, in the long run, such generosity will be blessed (Proverbs 22:9).
By Savannah Cottrell
