I just got home, after a quick stop by Chick-fil-A for breakfast. I’m taking the rest of the day off…and maybe tomorrow too, to hang out with family. But I had to brag publicly on the kind folks of Jacksonville, Florida first: They sponsored 156 children last night.
Thanks, Jacksonville.
I’ll have more to say soon, but in the meantime, check Brian’s blog. He’s (hopefully) got some good news to share with us this afternoon.
Until I return, discuss amongst yourselves: Why give presents at Christmas to people whose birthday it definitely is not? More on that from me later.
Sarah says:
I know the tradition is something to the effect of honoring the presents given to sweet baby Jesus, but for that to count shouldn’t we need to give frankencense, gold or myrhh? I’ve never understood the practice, but my more materialistic side comes out and I gotta be honest: I don’t hate it. Most of the time, anyway. =)
Jennifer says:
hmmm… I think it’s in response to the fact that for his own birthday, Jesus gave himself. The wisemen understood (or at least read about) all the prophecies made about a Messiah that would humble himself to come to us and be fully God but still be fully human, but be brutally murdered at the hands of those for whom God loved enough to send his son. They were so humbled and broken by such a sacrifice that they could do nothing else except give something, anything, even though they knew it could never be enough to repay Him for sending a Savior. I think God wanted to set an example by inspiring such hearts of worship in the wisemen that we are to worship God in the same way, and love one another with hearts of compassion by giving what we have to help others, and trusting in God to provide for what we lack.
annie says:
I’ve always looked at it as an excuse to love on people. I know, I don’t actually NEED an excuse to do that. But I also love to wrap presents!
Seriously, I’ve pondered your question every year. And that’s all I can come up with.
Seth Ward says:
You kind of are aren’t you?
“Jesus, swinging in my yard…”
glass plate says:
I think God wanted to set an example by inspiring such hearts of worship in the wisemen that we are to worship God in the same way.
Dawn~Canada says:
I think you may have opened a whole can of worms here Shawn. (At least for me anyway!) I think the origin of gift giving at this time of year may have come about when people began celebrating Hanukkah (the Jewish Festival of Lights. The Jewish tradition includes a week (?) of giving – a gift for every night of the week. However, being that many of our modern day traditions were dictated by Roman rule even at the time of Christ, the day of our Saviors birth has become mixed up in fact and fiction. So between the Roman rule and past Jewish tradition, Christmas has been kind of a melting pot of cultural ideas and ways of celebrating. However, according to many historical scholars, Jesus’ birthday would actually have been sometime in the late fall.So really, between Santa, Hanukkah, and many other celebrations, we’re just mixed up in what we’re doing. Most of us don’t ever really think about why we give gifts. We just do cuz that’s what always been done. Romans 12:2 starts “And be not conformed to this world…” another translation says not “to follow the customs and traditions of this world…” So I don’t know where ya wanna go with that. We still give gifts. Are we taking that opportunity to teach our kids about our King, love on them in another way? Do we down play all the worldly hype of Christmas and try to bring glory to God? Yes. Is it right, what God would want us to do? I sure hope so. I’d hate to be out of line with His will. Cheers!
Jill Foley says:
Like I said before….I really think we should also give a gift to Jesus…and the best way I know how to do that is to obey Him and his commands. How many times in Scripture does He tell us to take care of the poor. For me, my gift to Jesus is to sponsor children through Compassion International.
….whatever you do for the least of these….(Matthew 25)
We are trying really, really hard to model to our young girls that Christmas is about showing love to others, and in doing so, showing love to God.
I love that some families leave the figure of baby Jesus out of their nativity set until Christmas morning. That the first present opened on Christmas morning is baby Jesus…then talking about how He is God’s greatest gift to us.
And why not throw a birthday party for Jesus?
Cali Amy says:
Are you asking for the historical reason? Until I read your post today, I thought you were asking about the heart reason.