Presence vs Presents

  Christmas is always a great time to gather with family and make memories.  Precisely for this reason, the season also brings remembrance for everyone that not all of our family is here with us anymore.  We remember how Papaw loved to bless the food and carve the ham.  We are reminded of Uncle John’s reading of the true Christmas story.  Then Mom’s wonderful Christmas cookies, that no one can ever match.  The many traditions of Christmas help us to remember times past, and to embed present events as lasting memories.

  At Christmas we often get gifts for those around us.  We spend considerable funds buying just the right gift, in addition to the time searching, wrapping, and delivering the gift.  It would be no surprise to say that ‘time’ is the most precious resource we have.  God has an appointed time set for our life, and then we will leave this life.  Whatever amount of hours and minutes we have, it is given for our choice of investing. 

  The events of the past few weeks and the memories of times past, should remind us of just how precious our time is on this Earth.  Each day we make choices of how to spend our time and resources.  Sometimes we choose to be alone, other time we spend at work, and still others with friends and acquaintances.  We should be exceedingly careful with how we choose to invest our time, and choose to invest the most of it with those we love.  

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:12-14

  The greatest fulfillment of this verse is Jesus’ sacrifice for our eternal life.  Yet when we consider the limited resources we have in this life, do we realize that each expenditure and hour given to someone is a precious gift, a sacrifice of our life.  We do the same when we give to missions, volunteer in ministry, and devote ourselves to a cause.  We choose those that we do not know, and give them part of ourselves.  It may seem counter-productive in taking time from our family and giving to others, but Jesus directed us to pray and love even our enemies, even as He did. 

 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Be sure to be very intentional in how you spend your time this Christmas, and every day.  Many people leave this life every day, never knowing that today was their last.  Invest your time well!