In this season of Christmas, the world and even many Christians worry and scramble buying each other gifts over the sake of tradition. Buying gifts for one another is not a bad thing in itself. Giving gifts to the poor and needy is not a bad thing in itself. But as usual, we forget the order of how things are to be and we tend to lose the importance of what Christmas really means. For our God is a God of order and we are to learn His order even for this season. With all the commercial secular advertisements of holiday food and special shopping sales, we can lose focus of the real meaning of this season. Christmas is not a season to buy each other gifts per se. It is not a season per se for family to get together just because they have not seen each other for a long time. It is a season to honor the King of Kings and this is the first order.
Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.11 And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.12 And [j]receiving an answer to their asking, they were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to go back to Herod; so they departed to their own country by a different way.
Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.11 And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.12 And [j]receiving an answer to their asking, they were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to go back to Herod; so they departed to their own country by a different way.
The wise men traveled a great distance to find the new born King of Kings. When they had entered into the house and when they had saw the Child, they fell down and worshiped HIM. Christmas is a season in which we should be preparing to worship HIM. It is a season to reflect HIS birth which brought salvation unto the world. It is a season to honor HIM. It is a season to thank HIM as we fall down and worship HIM. The wise men showed their worship and gratitude by then offering HIM gifts. They were expensive gifts. Where is our offering unto HIM as we worship HIM? The world and many Christians spend so much money on this season for themselves. But where is their offering to HIM? Yes, we can say as we give gifts to each other or to the poor, we are giving gifts to HIM. But unless HE tells you otherwise, you must bring your tithes/offering to the designated place of worship.
Deuteronomy 14:23-25 (AMP)And
you shall eat before the Lord your God in the place in which He will
cause His Name [and Presence] to dwell the tithe (tenth) of your grain,
your new wine, your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and your flock,
that you may learn [reverently] to fear the Lord your God always.24 And
if the distance is too long for you to carry your tithe, or the place
where the Lord your God chooses to set His Name [and Presence] is too
far away for you, when the Lord your God has blessed you,25 Then
you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and
shall go to the place [of worship] which the Lord your God has chosen.
If we are willing to spend and buy a loved one or friend with so much money, is our God not worth that much and/or even more? Should our offering not equal or be greater than what we spend for one particular person? Jesus should always be on the top of the list as we make a list to purchase gifts. Some say we are poor so we cannot make an offering? Jesus said that the old lady with the two coins gave more than the rich. If we have little, HE is testing you to see if you will be faithful even with the little.
Let us not forget the reason for this season. This season is about the birth of our Savior and we must utilize our resource and time to first come and worship HIM and make HIM an offering. Therefore, brethren, wherever you are, make sure you make an offering to your home church or to the place you are being spiritually fed. HE must be first in all your decisions. Then as you can see in verse 12 of Matthew 2, the wise men received their answer to their prayer. Even if you cannot afford to buy people gifts, make sure you first make your gift to God even though it may be small. Our prayers are answered when we always put God first.
Let us not forget the reason for this season. This season is about the birth of our Savior and we must utilize our resource and time to first come and worship HIM and make HIM an offering. Therefore, brethren, wherever you are, make sure you make an offering to your home church or to the place you are being spiritually fed. HE must be first in all your decisions. Then as you can see in verse 12 of Matthew 2, the wise men received their answer to their prayer. Even if you cannot afford to buy people gifts, make sure you first make your gift to God even though it may be small. Our prayers are answered when we always put God first.
We must return as the people of God who knows how to make a proper offering to HIM. For too long have we sought for our own selfish ways. Lord, we repent of this and may we return to our First Love.
Merry Christmas and Glory to HIM!
Fire of God Church
Merry Christmas and Glory to HIM!
Fire of God Church
An International Holy Fire Ministry
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fremont, CA USA
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