THE GENEROSITY OF GOD
John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave ….”
What is the real meaning of Christmas? Kids’ may mention Santa Claus, presents, Christmas trees, presents, pretty lights, and, oh, did I mention presents? Ask a parent and they might make mention of family, traditions, Christmas carols, mistletoe, and all the money they had to spend to buy those presents. Oh, and if they are religious and want to give their “religiously correct”, Sunday School answer, they will mention the true “reason for the season” - the babe in the manger.
But let’s boil it down. While, all of the above mentioned do hold true to our culture, and the birth of Jesus is certainly more than just a good “Sunday School answer”, what is the root of it all? What is the underlying theme of the yuletide festivities?
John 3:16 tells us, “For God … GAVE.” (caps mine) Christmas reveals this. It is about the fact that what we need we can’t produce. It is about our spiritual impotence – a great peril of the soul. And what is the solution? Generosity! God’s!
In our neediness and spiritual impotence, God GAVE! He emptied all of Himself into the genre of human failure to become Good News of power unto salvation. In our weakness, He GAVE - strength! In our impotence, He GAVE - power! In our lostness, He GAVE - salvation! In our sinfulness, He GAVE - mercy! In our defeat, He GAVE - victory. And in our dying state of existence, he GAVE – life! He, God, completely exhausted Himself for our neediness by giving all in the life and death of His only Son. Paul asks the rhetorical question, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” The answer? It has been “GIVEN” into oblivion.
We are created in the image of God. The New Testament says that we are being molded into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). So what does that mean in relation to Christmas? It means that we are, and are becoming, a people of generosity, just like God, causing us to completely exhaust ourselves for the neediness of others, laying down even our lives for our brothers (1 Jn 3:16). Want to win souls to Christ? Give them into the kingdom! Want to help those in bondage to sin? Give them into deliverance. Want to see the Kingdom of Heaven come to earth? Then completely expend yourself on other’s behalf - GIVE!
What is Christmas really about? God being very, very generous!
