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Pastor Colin |
The best part of Christmas is getting all those lovely presents, right? But Colin Bond isn't too sure...
Giving is more fun than receiving. Well, that's a silly statement! Or is it? Christmas is such a wonderful time. From year dot we grew up anticipating early wake up, ripping off present wrappings, exploring contents, trying them out without too much noise to wake parents, then discovering they were peeping in to enjoy their kids' new pleasures.
Then followed late breakfast and maybe, off to church to show off our favourite present with thoughts rising of stuffing more than just the turkey! Surely, receiving is much more fun. Yet why were the parents peeping in to watch the children exploring presents? They enjoyed the giving. The Lord Jesus said, "It's more blessed (happier) to give than receive". And He was the wisest man to walk this earth.
He came into our world to give; in fact He was the only man ever born to die! His purpose was to be a substitute sacrifice, taking all our offences to a Holy God into His body at the cross. Then he deposited them in hell, only to rise again with new resurrection life and offer us the most wonderful Christmas gift ever imagined; everlasting life with Him in His home. And would you believe it, most people never unwrap it and receive it, so their sins (offences) take them to the devil's home for ever.
Because Jesus practised what He preached, giving His life in service to His Father and to us God has promoted Him to the highest throne above all others. He gave the most and now receives the most.
I have had the great privilege to work in third world countries. I've seen terrible poverty. With help from friends in Gloucester we have just finished a Maternity Hospital at Kahangi, Uganda. Several mothers each year die at childbirth, sometimes just from a haemorrhage because there is no money for ambulance or medical care. So many die from malaria simply because they cannot afford doctors and medicine. Infant mortality is high with all the sadness that goes with it. So often I'm saying, "O God, why? Why?"
Huge sums sent from the Global Fund to help fight malaria and HIV just disappear. Newspapers report that National Health Contributions have been lost by officials gambling in Las Vegas, that some politicians and business folk pay themselves huge salaries, that some charity workers travel in shiny great 4 x 4 vehicles. Donors hear the stories and cut back on donations, and bribery and corruption extract billions from the national economy. Progress is crippled while officials wait for back-handers before anything moves.
Greed and miserliness may result in riches but they bring us under a curse. God says, "Give and test Me, see if I won't open the windows of heaven and give to you so much you will be unable to store it all"! His love and plan for us all is to prosper us until we look like rich children of the King but He is unable to until we too give like His children. Those who live and work for money not only perpetuate the curse but learn that "the love of money is the root of all evil", while "righteousness exalts a nation."
May this Christmas be a great blessing to all of us with divine revelation to live pleasing to the Almighty and discover "all good things" He wishes for us. A Happy and Joy-filled Christmas Season to you all from the Family of God at the King's and around the world.
Colin
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