Christmas or X-Mas, for those who are lazy, don’t believe in Christ and want Him out of the picture, is only a few weeks away. If the economy hasn’t lightened your wallet then Christmas is sure to finish the job, but that is another story. Everyone to some degree or another will be thinking about gifts; their giving and hopefully the joy that they will bring to their recipients. This is a time for parties, festivities, happiness and joy more so than any other time of the year, save possibly a birthday. Gifts are normally associated with happiness, joy and excitement except possibly for the guy who gets his annual pack of socks or that singing fish that comes mounted on a wall plaque. Scripture tells us that God works all things for our good to prosper us and not harm us, so we associate gifts as positive things but can there be bad gifts.
We often talk of the gifts of the Spirit or the giftedness of a person in a particular skill or ability but how would we view a debilitating illness, persecution or loss of a job as a gift? Does that cross the line? No. To focus on the gift and not the Giver is to lose sight of God’s sovereignty and a desire to replace it with our own will and plans. In his book “God As He Longs For You to See Him” Chip Ingram makes the point that attests to God’s sovereignty and omnipotence in the face of suffering, “Nothing will enter your life that God does not decree or allow. And nothing will ever enter your life that, if you are willing to trust in Him, He cannot work out for your good.” For many this is one of those “Yeah But Moments” when you are saying yeah but you aren’t where I am right now or you are not facing what I am. You are right because no one can experience what you are, but hardship and suffering are ways that our loving Daddy uses to get our attention and bring glory to Himself. The secular corollary to this comes from the sports world….no pain no gain. If you really take issue with this perspective read the book of Job, you probably don’t have it that bad.
If one says that God doesn’t understand or care about their troubles then they don’t really know Him. Remember it was God who offered His only son, the one whose birth we will soon celebrate to suffer a horrible death for our redemption. This act was Jesus’ gift of suffering for what we have done and will do. The reason we don’t see this is because we view life myopically and not from God’s eternal perspective. Some might say that missionary Jim Elliot’s death at the hands of the very natives he was trying to reach wasn’t fair but it would ultimately bring salvation to that very tribe. Perhaps you could be like the unbeliever who was hospitalized with a broken leg, no visitors and only Christian novels to read. He came to Christ because of God’s plan to call him to himself and prosper him. God has a plan whether you see it or not. Scripture also tells us to rejoice in all things whether we like or understand them or not. This is not some evil perversion of scripture but a challenge to look beyond the obvious to how God is working in every situation.
As Christians we should hurt with those who are hurting and grieve with those who are grieving and yes rejoice with those to are rejoicing. You don’t have to personally experience their circumstances to join with them because you do so by encouraging, praying for and supporting them. As Christmas nears switch your spiritual radar on and look for those who need help. If you are one of those individuals in need don’t deny the blessing to someone by playing the self sufficient tough guy. In pain there is gain in God’s plan for the helped and the helper. Merry Christmas!
