[Give More]

[Give More]

(Luke 3:7-14) 10:30 am, 3^rd Sun of Advent,

Dec 16, 2012; Windsor UBC; J G White

Advent is the season of John the Baptizer, for he is one of the key Biblical characters who prepares the way for the Messiah.  Of course, he is dramatically preparing the people for thirty-year-old Jesus to appear on the scene.

Marilyn read a bit of John’s preaching and teaching.  He has harsh warnings.  So the people ask, “What then should we do?”  If you have two coats, give one to someone with none.  If you have food, give to one in need.  Tax collectors were to stop collecting more than the Roman tax from the people.  Soldiers were to stop extorting the people and be happy with their wage. 

Give.  Stop taking.  This was the way to make a turn-around and be ready of Jesus the Christ.  To spend less is to give more.  More of our money, more of our time, more of our energy and our capabilities.  What God gives us – Jesus, the Son – is our inspiration at this time.  Jesus – born a human, suffering and dying for us – breathes into us a change of heart, and fresh priorities.  Have you been appreciating how He paves the way for you to spend less and give more?  Or do we give to ourselves?

Did you hear Stuart MacLean’s story on the radio last weekend, The Hockey Game?  Or hear it last year on Christmas Eve?  A story about Dave as a boy of ten; the Christmas he saw the wooden hockey game in the store, like the one that used to be at my grandparent’s in Oshawa when I was a kid.  The smooth, curved, plywood game, with the players who could swivel completely around.

Dave had saved up a lot of money for a ten year old back then, about $27.  After checking for days the spot his parents hid the gifts in the basement, Dave gave up on them buying it for him; so he spent almost all his money on the last game in the store, wrapped it up, and addressed it to himself, from Santa Claus.  Just about out of money, he wrapped up his prized Yo-yo to his father, a ball-point pen from the jar near the phone to his mother, and his beloved baseball glove to his little sister.  He already knew she liked the glove. 

Early, early on Christmas morning, he snuck his gift to himself down to the Tree… and there, among the presents, was a gift to him from his parents, the exact size and shape of the hockey game.  They had got it for him.  He put the one he bought back in his attic hiding spot. 

So Christmas morning, the gifts were all opened.  His parents were confused by Dave’s gifts to them.  His sister was thrilled with the baseball glove.  Dave was not so excited about that hockey game he had been so wanting.  Later on, he was in his room, and his sister passed by.  He said, “You know, it was my favourite glove.”  He could have said, his “only glove.” 

“It’s my favourite present,” she said. 

He wanted to tell her the truth.  He wanted to tell her about the game in the attic. 

“I want to tell you why I gave it to you,” he said. 

Annie was seven years old that Christmas.  She stood at the doorway to his room and she stared back at him.  “I already know why you gave it to me,” she said.  “Everyone does.”  He stared at his sister, standing there so determined in her jeans and plaid shirt.  “You gave it to me,” she said, “because you love me…  And you knew that I loved it more than you.” 

She was right; he did know that.  He did love her.  It might not have been the whole truth, but it was a greater one.  “That’s right,” he said, “that’s right.”

They went downstairs together then, and they played his new hockey game for an hour.  And who would have guessed it: she beat him every game. 

How often do you give a gift to yourself?  It cost money, or time, or energy and creativity.   And yet, life with the Lord is more profound.  God has plans for each of us to let of go of giving to ourselves.  We strive for greater goals – loving and giving to others, completely, as God does. 

Give.  It is a way to prepare and train your own heart for the word that Christ will speak to you.