Now I must here recognize that, in itself, it is not wrong to give gifts to others. In writing to the brethren about giving gifts to others, Sister White gave this counsel: “While urging upon all the duty of first bringing their offerings to God, I would not wholly condemn the practice of making Christmas and New Year’s gifts to our friends. It is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not in this forget God, our best friend. We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver. I would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the word of God, or that will increase our love for its precepts.” – Review & Herald, December 26, 1882 par. 18. While it is appropriate to give gifts to others during this season, we are not to spend our money on useless gratifications. Also, while we may spend time with and money on loved ones, we are not to forget the Friend who sticks closer than any brother.
When Moses was in the mount with God, he received the charge to gather freewill offerings from the children of Israel for the purpose of building a sanctuary for God. Moses, after receiving the plans of the sanctuary and its services, made an appeal to the people to bring their offerings on their own freewill. The response to that appeal was amazing. The Bible says, “And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. … And they spake unto Moses, saying, the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.” – Exodus 36:3-6.
The children of Israel were so excited to act there part in supporting God’s work, that they willingly gave much more than what was initially needed. Consequently, they were told to cease their offerings. Friends, this is a lesson for us today. The Bible says, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” – 1 Corinthians 9:7. It is only as we recognize the value of the gift of God in giving us His only-begotten Son that we could give cheerfully. The Israelites, in anticipation of having the Shekinah glory in their midst, cheerfully offered their gifts for the building of the sanctuary. Christians, in anticipation of seeing Christ formed in man, are to cheerfully offer their gifts for the building of God’s temple on earth. In fact, this is what Christmas should be about; putting God’s cause first. Listen to these words of inspiration. “I address my brethren upon whom God has bestowed of this world’s goods: What will you do at the beginning of this New Year to show your gratitude to the Giver of all your mercies? Will you return to him in willing offerings a portion of the gifts he has freely bestowed upon you? Will you, by your Christmas and New Year’s gifts, acknowledge that all things belong to God, and that all the blessings which we receive are the result of divine beneficence? When Jesus ascended to Heaven, he committed his work on earth to his disciples, and bade them carry it forward in his name. As followers of Christ we are to be his representatives among men. The salvation of perishing souls calls for our personal effort and for our means. This should be the great object continually before us. It is to accomplish this that God has intrusted us with means.” – Review & Herald, December 26, 1882 par. 12, 13.
