Joyous Giving

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:11-12

Why is Ebenezer Scrooge so unhappy? He has everything. More money than he will ever need. A comfortable mansion in a nice city. A successful business. Yet, as Charles Dickens describes him in “A Christmas Carol,” this is the most miserable man on the face of the earth.

His horrible nature is no mystery, although its simplicity is often overlooked. And that is because many of us have the same basic beliefs as Scrooge. Yes, that’s right. Scrooge was an old crotchety miser and many of us are not that far off from being just like him.

Why? Because most of us believe - if we are honest enough to admit it - that happiness comes from getting things and having more stuff. We convince ourselves that if we could only get more money, or a bigger house, or better job … then we would finally be happy. But it never quite works out that way and it didn’t work that way for Ebenezer Scrooge either. You see, he was unhappy not because of a failure to get, but to give.

And in this one truth is the most important message of Christmas.

President Woodrow Wilson said, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

Our best joys come through giving. Christmas reminds us of that truth. In fact, the most important message of Christmas is that of joyous giving. Remember, the baby in Bethlehem's manger was a gift of joy, a present from a loving Heavenly Father to his lost and hurting children; a gift the Bible says brought “good tidings of great joy” to giver and receiver alike.

Look around you. Where are the places in your life for joyous giving? These are your best opportunities to bring the joy of Christmas and of Jesus Himself into the lives of all those you encounter. There is no limit to ways in which you can be an angel to someone every day.

Yes, Jesus came to us because we were hurting and needed help. Today, people still need help. That’s why Jesus needs you to joyously give healing, love and maybe just a word of encouragement at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, You have blessed me with such great joy. Now and forever, I ask that you remind me to be a blessing to others with that same joy. Fill my heart with Your presence so that every person I know will come to know You. Let me be a messenger of Your immeasurable peace and joy for all eternity. Amen.