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PROGRAM D-7209
I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas! Well, that’s what you’re supposed to do this time of year, isn’t it? Merry Christmas is traditional. But I’ve been talking about how to have a truly merry Christmas by having a merry heart. Our theme verse is Proverbs 11:25: “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” So, we make our own hearts merry when we make others merry.
One sure way to have a merry heart is to have a generous spirit. Keep your eyes and ears open for ways to give gifts—to people that don’t expect it, people not on your list, people who won’t give you a gift in return.
I remember when my hairdresser mentioned that she didn’t have a Bible to read. I also knew she had a little boy. Immediately I thought: “I should buy her a Bible and give her a Bible story book for her son.” Obviously God had her say that to me for a purpose, and the purpose was that I could supply that need.
A friend of mine was prompted by God to give a gift to a woman she worked for—a woman who had been most unkind to her as well as to everyone else. But at God’s prompting she gave her a gift, with a note, and this kind act of generosity changed that situation dramatically and gave Beth an opportunity to witness.
Proverbs 18:16 tells us that “A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.” Again Proverbs 21:14 tells us that “A gift given in secret soothes anger…”
The Bible is full of promises for people who are generous—people who will give of their resources and their time to others. Proverbs 22:9 says that “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”
And Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Think of how freely he has given us his grace and mercy. Think of how lavishly he gives us his love and patience and kindness. If you have received freely from him, in great abundance without strings attached, can you give in a similar free spirit, asking for nothing in return?
Give something away this Christmas. Give something that you hadn’t planned to give. Give to someone you don’t have to give to. You will create a merry heart, if you do. A merry heart for yourself and for the person to whom you give.