Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
– Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for his films, like The Terminator and Kindergarten Cop, but one of Arnold’s movies that I have watched more times than I’d like to admit is Jingle all the Way. This 1996 film is about a workaholic father, played by Arnold, who promises to get his son the most popular action figure toy on the market for Christmas. But like so many of us fathers out there, he waits until the last day to go purchase it! As you can expect, the toy is sold out and Arnold has 24 hours to find this action figure for his son.
A LOVING AND PRESENT FATHER
Standing in the way of Arnold finding the toy is a reindeer, a group of Santas, and a mailman, who goes so far as to spray Arnold’s eyes with pepper spray to try to get the toy. But eventually Arnold gets his hands on the action figure—only to realize what his son really needs is his father, not the toy.
When Arnold starts to focus on becoming the loving and present father his son wanted most, he also decides to give the toy to the mailman, showing love to his enemies, like Jesus told us to do. In Luke 6:38, Jesus says, “Give, and it will be given to you.” When everything is going well in my life, it’s easier for me to be generous. But it’s much harder when they’re not. But Jesus tells us to be generous in all circumstances.
A GENEROUS HEART
Generosity isn’t just a financial or monetary blessing. It might be more about being generous with your time, spending it with loved ones, like Arnold realized with his son. Being generous comes from the heart, from the work of the Holy Spirit within us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and spend time in his presence. God was so generous with his Son, with his grace, and with his forgiveness. We are called to share that same generosity with others that is so freely shared with us.
Use this Christmas season to glorify God through a generous heart. Invite a friend to church or share what God is doing in your life. Help a neighbor decorate or invite them to dinner. Let’s be a generous church that shares the love of God with others, no matter the circumstances.
Reflect: How will you be more generous this Christmas season? How is the posture of your heart—your love and generosity toward others?
