'Tis the season to be joyful

’Tis the season to be joyful! Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, we’re now reminded we should be most thankful and joyful because of the good news of great joy that the Savior had been born (Luke 2:8-14).

Jesus, the Savior, was/is the greatest gift to humankind for all eternity (James 1:16-17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16-17). Because the Christmas season is the giving season, pleas to help the needy have increased. Also for about 10 years, we’ve had Giving Tuesday

that comes right after Thanksgiving and soon enough before Christmas to not interfere with last-minute shopping that encourages radical giving. Having thought about that, there are a few organizations that advertise their targeted need year-round, I think, because they recognize that the need occurs year-round.

We’re to do good to all people whenever we have the opportunity, including our enemies, because even Christians were God’s enemies at one time (Galatians 6:6-10; Romans 5:6-11). God’s love for us should cause us to want to bring some joy into the lives of others by treating them as we want to be and have been treated by God, which, in turn, is loving God and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 7:12; 22:34-40; 25:31-46).

Jesus expanded on that to include our enemies because we show him our love and become more like him when we show love to our enemies (Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 5:43-48).

God truly does expect us to be our neighbors’ or brothers’ keeper by meeting their needs (Genesis 4:9; Romans 12:9-13; 1 Corinthians 13:3-8).

First Corinthians 13:3 indicates we can gain because of our love, likely because love leads us to store up treasures in heaven, even as we are loving ourselves as we love our neighbor (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:16-21; Luke 12:13-33; 16:9; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Keeping in mind that God worked for six days to provide for our material needs, to not work to support ourselves when we’re able and share with others in need is theft from God (Acts 17:24-28; Genesis 1:1-31: 2:1-17; 3:17-19; Ephesians 4:28; Malachi 3:6-12).

There’s nothing wrong with having treasures on earth, but they must be used properly to take care of others’ needs after we’ve met our own needs and even some appropriate wants (1 Timothy 6:6-10). The Bible says we should look not only to our own interests or needs, but also to the needs of others having Jesus’ attitude of joy in bringing salvation to all who will abide in God’s love through faith and obedience (Philippians 2:1-11; Hebrews 12:1-4; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:11-18; John 15:8-13).

During this season of emphasized giving, let’s remember why Jesus came and what it cost him and commit ourselves to joyfully giving year-round because he was a joyful giver. After meeting your own needs, your regular contribution to church, and being prepared to meet individual needs as they arise, find a few worthy organizations to support monthly, giving what you can reasonably because it’s always the season to be joyful or cheerful (John 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].