Should Christian Parents Buy Lots of Gifts for their Children at Christmas?

The presents may all be unwrapped, but how much is too much? It may be too late for this Christmas, but perhaps in the new year this is a question you’d like to wrestle with in your family.

Show Notes:

• Christmas is about gifts, mostly the extravagant gift of Jesus. 
• Jesus calls us to follow him–how did he leverage his resources. Certainly, it’s wise to understand the times we are in, that we are in the richest country in the world, and that comes with responsibility.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (ESV). 
  • Our gift giving should glorify the gospel
    • It’s lavish generosity: your gift ought to make me thank God for his generosity. When I see it cost you and you care about me.
• How we do it in our house: 
  • Something you want, need, wear, read
  • Biggest gift at Christmas goes to Jesus! 
• John Piper: Why do we give Christmas gifts?
  • Gift giving is biblical
  • God’s gifts to us:
    • God gives us His Son (John 3:16)
    • 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” The very essence of Christmas includes a divine overflow of generosity, kindness, grace, giving–doing for us, giving to us, what we could never do for ourselves or get on our own.
  • Our gifts to God:
    • We have a responsibility to give to Christ. 
    • It’s dangerous in one sense to speak of giving to Christ because our giving to Christ dare not be seen as a paying him back, as if the transaction were done because he needs to get our services. 
    • Our giving to Christ is an overflow of affection and thankfulness for our forgiveness.
    • Part of worship is finding ways to show how much we admire and reverence and trust and value Jesus.
  • Our gifts to others:
    • The giving of God to us and our joyful readiness to show affection in giving to him overflow in our giving to others. 
    • Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
    • 2 Corinthians 8:2, “In a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed.”
    • The giving of God to us and our joyful readiness to show affection in giving to him overflow in our giving to others. 
    • Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
    • 2 Corinthians 8:2, “In a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed.”
    • Our gift giving should lead others to:
      • Rejoice in God as the great and first giver of the greatest gift.
      • Seek the mindset that offers back to Christ the gift of trust, hope, admiration, joy, and affection.
      • Seek the mindset that overflows with joy in giving to others.

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