Fearless Generosity: Reclaiming Christmas through Kingdom Sacrifice

[13] Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." [14] But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" [15] And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." [16] And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, ''What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'' [18] And he said, ''I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'' [20] But God said to him, ''Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'' [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." [22] And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. [24] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! [25] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [26] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? [27] Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [28] But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! [29] And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. [30] For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. [32] "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

-Luke 12:13-34 (ESV)  

No other time of year tests the hearts of men regarding greed and covetousness than the holiday season. Our eyes are tempted with so many things that glitter with the chrome of dissatisfaction. Every shiny thing becomes an object of necessity in the eye of the one beholding it.

I must confess, I enjoy both giving and receiving gifts. Yet as I read this passage, I began to realize that maybe I go overboard in giving to my children and grand children. Most certainly, the gifts are purchased with the thought of enjoying the reaction of the recipient. However, too much of a good thing may tarnish the value of giving and receiving.

The first part of this passage warns us to "be on guard" against all manner of covetousness. Why? Because my life and your life can become defined by what we possess rather than the one who should possess us.

This passage also cautions us with the story of the man who tore his barns down and built bigger ones to hold more stuff. His life was defined by abundance and security and yet, when he should have been living the dream his life came to an abrupt end.

Am I consumed by stuff? I think so. I am not telling you that having things is wrong. I enjoy my iPhone and iPad. After all, I am typing this devotional on it. I simply was awakened to the reality that I am never satisfied. I want it all. That, my friends, is covetousness at its deepest depth.

Jesus, however, gives us a definition of Kingdom life. He tells us to sell our possessions and give to the needy. I will not define that for you. I think you have to define what that means to you as you wrestle with this passage of scripture.

What I do want to challenge each of you with is this: We all have in abundance and could, during this season of shiny temptations, take the resources from one thing that we would have purchased and give to those in need.

Don't stop there. Let us not just make this a Christmas tradition but rather a Kingdom lifestyle that lives with the constant awareness of God's daily provisions as well as an eye looking for where we can sow more seed for His Glory.

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