When I was growing up, my family didn’t go to church. So I had no idea about things such as tithing or service to others.  I just knew I had to be a good boy.

So when we visited my twin cousins one December, I was in for the shock of my life.  One afternoon our parents sent us out to shop for Christmas – the twins were in their teens and I was about 10.  We were on our way to a store that had the gift I wanted to get for my parents when we passed Santa standing by a big black pot – you know, the Salvation Army.  Without warning the twins grabbed my wallet and gave all of my money to Santa. I was – well, I can’t say how I felt on paper.  After all, that was my hard-earned money from the whole year and they gave it all away.

Later, when I became a Christian, I understand what they were trying to tell me – it was better to give to those who had little than to buy a gift for people who had too much already.

It is better to give to those who have little than to buy a gift for people who have too much already.

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Many years later, my wife and I took the Christmas thing a bit further and stopped giving gifts at Christmas. Instead we gave the amount to the church that we would have spent. And guess what – we never again had to experience the rush and push of Christmas shopping (there wasn’t Internet shopping back then).

Christmas is just around the corner.  I hope you are prepared for it and that you haven’t felt the pressure to give to someone who most likely already has more than they need.

So I encourage you to choose a cause or person in need and spend your Christmas money on them.  You will never regret doing so.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Question: How have you chosen to help the needy at Christmastime? Share your ideas in the Comments section below.

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