Text: 1John 4:10-12

¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is the season of giving.  The retailers would sure like us to think so.  And while you’re at it, how about those big ticket items.  Maybe a $35,000 BMW with a big bow around it.  Maybe the latest piece of technology that does it faster and better.  Maybe a nice pearl necklace to adorn that special someone’s neck.

Yet  I don’t know about you.  When it comes to gifts, when someone asks me what I would like for Christmas, I usually draw a blank.  Not because my brain is failing me, though some might question that.  Here’s why.  I really have all I need and more, much more.

I would think that’s the case for most of us sitting here this morning.  In fact, if you don’t have what you really need, food and clothing, a roof over your head,  I’d like to know about it.  Maybe there is something we can do.

So here comes Christmas.  How are we going to celebrate it this year?  Last week we talked about worship, getting ready to worship.  Today I want to let this Word of God teach us something about giving.

Christmas Giving Where it’s Needed
I.  The Father sure got it right
II.  What about us?

Giving is a close relative to love.  At least it should be.  Well if we want to learn something about love, real love, John tells us, look at God’s love.   Look what His love moved him to give.  Look where God  directed his giving.  It’s all here in this one verse. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.   You see, God’s love didn’t start with ours.  God’s love for you and me wasn’t a response to our love for him.  He didn’t look down from heaven and think how great WE art.  Far from it.  We gave him every reason to push us away.

Yet he loved us.  Not just with some warm fuzzy feeling.  His love for you zeroed in on a need, a desperate need.  A need we may not have even known.  Think about it.  When I ride along with the police, they sometimes pull someone over.  Before the police officer comes to the car, he goes to his computer screen which gives him the capability of checking your record.  Are there any outstanding warrants for your arrest?  Are you on probation?  If they find something, you’ve got a problem.

Well do you think you or I could stand before God based on the record of our lives?  What would your thoughts say about you?  A lot more than some shameful incident the press might reveal about a presidential candidate.   We need to understand something.  You and I would be toast if God treated us the way we deserve.

Yet what was God’s response?  Flush us down the eternal toilet?  That’s what we had coming.  But what do we find?  His love.  His love that zeroed in our need.  His love that responded to our need in this way.   He gave us his own Son.  He sent him.  And why?  Not to take us out.  But to be born as one of us.  He gave us his own Son.  Not to walk around like some kind of celebrity, but to serve us, to set us  free from the sin and death that stuck to us like that mud on the bottom of your shoe.

Here comes the amazing thing.  One word that says so much about God’s Christmas giving.  One special Greek word that says this about Jesus, the gift God gave us all :  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins In other words, He is the One God gave us to make things right.  And we know how.   God would take what is wrong about us and put it on His own Son. My guilt, my punishment on him.

And don’t think that was easy for the Father.  To know even at Jesus birth, that His own Son, would someday face what we sing about at Christmastime.  More than once my voice has choked up to sing it. Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross, he’ll bear for me, for you…

So yes it’s the season of giving.  But see how God leads the way.  Go to the manger and there  see the  gift God gave.  Christmas giving where it’s needed.   For you , for me.  For that person who still does not know the child of Mary.  For there we see the Father’s love that sure got it right.

Now what about us? What about our love?  What about our giving?   The apostle John teaches us this Christian faith is not just about receiving God’s gift.  It’s not just about rejoicing that this gift, his own Son, speaks to our greatest need.  Being a Christian is not just about praising  God  for a hope like no other.

So what about us?  What about our giving?  What do these words teach  us: Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Since God so loved us.  What do we know about that  love?  It was undeserved.  We still don’t deserve it. What else do we see?  God acted.  He didn’t just feel sorry for us.  Oh that’s too bad. They’re dying sinners.  That’s too bad. God gave.  He gave of himself.  He gave where it was needed.

You and I  are to show that same kind of love.  So often our gifts go to people we love.  Those we like.  There is a place for that.  But this kind of love is something different, something more.  Listen to Jesus:  If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you…Even sinners love those who love them. (Luke 6:32) This love is something more  and it gives.  Like God’s love, it gives.  It doesn’t just sit on the sideline and feel bad about what we see.  This love gives where it’s needed.

Now what does that mean? What does that mean this Christmas season?  It can mean any number of  things.  But since the Lord has blessed each of us with only so much to give we need to think about it.  Be proactive about our Christmas giving.

So here is my suggestion.  Start with those you love, your family.  Maybe you can agree that this year will be different.  Instead of piling high the gifts, instead of buying expensive stuff, why not agree to less. Why not agree to give presence, time with each other.  Why not make a gift?  For instance, one member of my family is taking all the many pictures out of those albums that are getting old. He’s scanning them and organizing them into a book for all of us.  What a great gift – a great gift that won’t cost all that much.  Mostly time for those he loves.

But here’s the point.  That frees up some money that would otherwise be spent. Why not take that money you save and give like God.   Christmas giving where it’s needed.

Last week we heard about giving to provide clean fresh water in places India and Africa.  Many children die every year because they get diseases from their water. By giving to our Christian aid and relief you can help build wells in the name of Jesus .  You can provide food and medical care in Russia and Bulgaria.  You can support community centers in very poor parts of Mexico that offer food, clothing and skills for living.  And you can do this in the name of Jesus.

I also know a way to give to help  Christians who have suffered terrible injury and loss at the hands of others.  Many don’t realize how bad it is for Christians in other parts of the world.  Places like Nigeria and Egypt.  Let me know if you wish to give in this way.  It is sorely needed.

Then there are so many service men and women.   Many come home maimed and messed up from so many deployments.  There are families whose loved ones come home in a casket.  Surely there are needs there .  Christmas giving where it’s needed.

It starts with the Father’s love that gave us his Son.  God so loved you and me.    Well that love does more than save us.  It does more than give us hope.  It transforms.  It pushes back against that selfishness that is so natural in each of us.  It makes his people, giving people.  And when that love is living and active in your life here’s what it shows:    if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. Amen.