Christmas and Guilt-Free Giving

I know for a lot of people, anxiety goes up when Christmas comes and the reason is oftentimes the subject of giving.  I'm not just talking about Christmas gifts, but giving in general.  If you even read a little bit of scripture, it's easy to see that God expects us to give.  In fact, as I've mentioned in sermons, giving shouldn't just be something we do, but it should be at our very core.  I think if people who called themselves followers of Christ would be givers at their core, we could bypass a lot of government programs because there would be little need.

But as it is, most of us need work on our giving (me included).  Let me just communicate a few thoughts I have about giving this Christmas season.  I'm not really an expert on this, but I have given it a lot of thought, so take it for what it's worth.

1.  The Bible calls us to give, that's not up for debate.  However, this causes many people a great deal of guilt.  How many times have you walked by the "red kettle" and thought, "I should give something."  We may even give because we don't want the bell-ringer to think we're heartless, self-centered people.   I think the red kettle is fine and all, but I think the guilt comes because we tend to be reactive with our giving rather than proactive.

When we're reactive, we only give when we are compelled by someone who asks.  When we're active, we will determine in advance what we're going to give and we give it.  Giving actively is really a more thoughtful way to do it.  At the beginning of the year, or the beginning of the Christmas season, you can say, "I'm going to give away $XXX" and be sure to do that.  Divvy it up appropriately.  Give some to the church.  Give some to an organization or family in need.  You can even set aside an amount to put in the kettle.  If you have a plan for giving, you don't have to feel guilty about it.

2.  Get your finances under control.  Some of the reason we don't give more is that we don't have it to give.  Now sometimes people are on a fixed income or have jobs that don't pay them a great deal.  If that's the case you just may not be able to give as much as you'd like.  Give something anyway.  But more often in our society, the problem isn't that we don't make enough, the problem is more that we spend too much.  What do we really need to have?  How big should our TV be?  How much should we spend on a house or a car or eating out?  I can't answer that question for you, it's something you have to determine in your own heart.  But here's my caution; who do you compare your lifestyle to?  The couple down the street with everything, or do you go into the city and see how many other people live?  When you come to the end of your life, for what will Jesus tell you, "well done, good and faithful servant."

If you have a lot of debt, work hard to get out of debt--not just so you can buy nicer things, but so you can give more.  Make it your goal.

3.  Just start giving.  Sometimes we tell ourselves that it would be great to win the lottery.  Then we could give TONS of money.  But first of all, let me just say this--you're not going to win the lottery!  Second, if you don't give generously now, what makes you think you'll become a different person just because you have more?  Develop a generous spirit by giving now, then if you do happen to win the lottery, you will be able to give a ton of money.

I think that's it.  Pretty short and sweet.  I'm interested in more ideas or suggestions if you have them.