Daily Stop & Thinks

Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection. (Pindar, 5th century B.C. Greek lyric poet))

As Pindar suggested centuries ago, it isn’t the size or the monetary value of the gift that is important. It’s the love that is behind the gift. Don’t give gifts just because it’s the thing to do or because someone has given you one; consider carefully how to demonstrate your love for someone and send the gift that best reveals the extent of your affection.

But since you excel in everything . . . and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7).

The joy of brightening other lives . . . becomes for us the magic of the holidays. (W. C. Jones, 19th-20th century government official)

Jones’ words are worth considering in this last week before Christmas. In addition to “brightening other lives,” he included “bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts” as a part of the holiday magic. It would be a wonderful experience this year if we were to follow his suggestions.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2).

I don’t think Christmas is necessarily about things. It’s about being good to one another, it’s about the Christian ethic, it’s about kindness. (Carrie Fisher, American actress and writer)

Fisher expresses a very popular thought about the Christmas holidays. “Peace and good will to men” is a widely accepted hope for everyone. But the “Christian ethic” is more than mere good feelings. It recognizes the greater meaning of the day: God sent His Son who is called Immanuel.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:23).

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. (Roy L. Smith, author)

It’s just one week until the biggest holiday of the year. It’s not just children who are hoping for a really great gift under the tree on the 25th. If we’re putting our hopes into temporal gifts, we’re missing the point of Christmas. It’s a celebration of God’s great gift that can transform our lives and give us a spirit of joy and peace year-round.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17). The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. (Mahatma Gandhi, 19th-20th century leader of the India independence movement)

Because we don’t know when our lives will end (by natural causes or accidents), Gandhi suggests that we fill up today by living at our best, hoping to leave some worthwhile achievement when we die. On the other hand, we should be continually learning so that the tomorrows we face will give us opportunity to do even more good.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning (Proverbs 9:9).

He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own. (Charles Spurgeon, 19th century British preacher)

Some people are so proud that they act as if they know it all and don’t need anyone else’s thoughts or ideas. We all know how ludicrous that is, but too often we think we know better than someone else, and we follow our own instincts—sometimes to no good. The humble leader acknowledges the wisdom of others and looks for it.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5).

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project . . . you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. (Patanjali , Indian author)

Patanjali continues: “. . . your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands . . . and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive.” In other words, new ideas may help you pursue great achievements.

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out (Proverbs 20:5).

You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. (John Bunyan, 17th century English writer)

Bunyan forces us to think carefully about how we live our lives. He argues that doing something—no matter how noble—with the expectation of being repaid is living selfishly. We haven’t really lived, he seems to say, until we learn to serve others without any prospect of being rewarded or even recognized.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. . . . If anyone serves, they should do so . . . that in all things God may be praised (1 Peter 4:10-11).

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. (W. T. Purkiser, preacher and author)

It’s common in prayer to thank God for His blessings without being very specific. An old hymn encourages us not only to count our blessings but to “name them one by one.” As Purkiser suggests, we should do more than talk about the good things we have. We should make use of them for our own growth and to encourage and help others.

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted (Proverbs 11:11).

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire, for hospitality in the hall, [and for] the genial flame of charity in the heart. (Washington Irving, 19th century American writer and diplomat)

Just two weeks to Christmas, and people are thinking a lot about the holiday. Irving’s comments are heart-warming and comforting. But, is that all that Christmas is about: comfort and good will? That’s often what it looks like in the decorations and celebrations, but you must look in the Bible to discover its real significance.

 When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law (Galatians 4:4).