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Reasons for wrapping
'Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others' Matthew 6:1
It's Christmas Eve and if what's on your mind most is; 'What will I get?', you need to start thinking about Christmas the right way up!
Christmas is all about giving, not getting. How did you decide who to give pressies to this Christmas? Do you only give presents to those who will give one back? Are you good at guesstimating how much someone will spend on you so you don't spend more on them? Are some crossed off your Christmas list because you don't like them, don't know them or think they deserve nothing from you? What are your reasons for wrapping?
What are your motives for giving? The Bible says, 'Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won't be applauding' (Matthew 6:1 TM).
Look how God gives: He gave the most precious thing He had to everyone. He didn't pick favourites, He gave to all; He didn't scrimp on the budget, He gave the most valuable thing He had; He didn't give because we'd done so well and deserved such a gift, He gave because He wanted us to have what we needed. He didn't give His gift under certain contractual conditions, He gave freely, knowing we would destroy His priceless gift:
'For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life' (John 3:16 NLT).
written by Bob Gass
'Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others' Matthew 6:1
It's Christmas Eve and if what's on your mind most is; 'What will I get?', you need to start thinking about Christmas the right way up!
Christmas is all about giving, not getting. How did you decide who to give pressies to this Christmas? Do you only give presents to those who will give one back? Are you good at guesstimating how much someone will spend on you so you don't spend more on them? Are some crossed off your Christmas list because you don't like them, don't know them or think they deserve nothing from you? What are your reasons for wrapping?
What are your motives for giving? The Bible says, 'Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won't be applauding' (Matthew 6:1 TM).
Look how God gives: He gave the most precious thing He had to everyone. He didn't pick favourites, He gave to all; He didn't scrimp on the budget, He gave the most valuable thing He had; He didn't give because we'd done so well and deserved such a gift, He gave because He wanted us to have what we needed. He didn't give His gift under certain contractual conditions, He gave freely, knowing we would destroy His priceless gift:
'For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life' (John 3:16 NLT).
written by Bob Gass
