A Season of Giving
- Jeff Kent
- Dec 22, 2025
- 2 min read
Matthew 10:7-8
We are in that season of the year in which giving is on everybody’s mind. A spirit of giving seems to be at every corner and on every website. Those who celebrate Christmas are busy shopping for gifts for family and friends. TV ads and fliers remind us of how many shopping days are left and how late you can order on line and still receive your purchase in time for the holiday.
Charitable organizations seize the opportunity of the season, also. Red kettles can be found at the entrance to many stores. We are reminded everywhere to remember the needs of the less fortunate for food and clothing. It seems we receive more requests than usual from these groups for financial support both by letter and e-mails. Everybody jumps on the proverbial “giving bandwagon.” It’s the season of giving. But it’s also the season of expected giving.
Did you ever get the feeling that the friendly bell-ringer tending the red kettle who says “Merry Christmas” thinks you’re a “scrooge” if you don’t open your wallet and drop a buck in the pot? Do you feel guilty if you don’t?
That brings up the question: What exactly is giving? If we give because someone expects us to give, is that giving? If we give a gift because we feel guilty if we don’t, is that giving? If we put something in the collection basket because we think that satisfies some tenet of religion, is that giving?
When Jesus sent out the twelve to preach the good news to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” he gave them gifts that they could then give to them. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons,” He told them. But their giving came with a condition: “Freely you received, freely give.” This is true giving. Just as we welcome and joyfully accept gifts, we are to give things away with the same attitude of heart. Freely, willingly, joyfully.
For the Christian, there really is no season of giving. We welcome opportunities to give to those in need throughout the year. We are, in fact, alert for them. Giving is part of our spiritual DNA.
><> Jeff