Well, here we go again with another Christmas almost upon us. Once again you hear those familiar phrases from well meaning Christians – “Let’s get Christ back into Christmas”. This almost seems like a wonderful idea – Christ should really be a part of all life. However, the problem here is that he was never a part of Christmas to begin with so how could we possibly put him “back” in? It would probably be more biblically accurate to say, “Let’s talk about Christ no matter what day it is”.
This, however, is not the point of this article as you may have deduced from the title. Many times when people read the Bible (which is not that frequent for most), there is the tendency to read modern day understandings of words into what the scriptures say. This can lead to a distortion of what the Word of God is saying. Let me give you an example.
During the Christmas season, it is commonly taught to the youth of our population that there is a large red-suited man that gives “gifts” to people. If they want to be among the recipients of those “gifts” then they – excuse my singing here – “… had better watch out. They’d better not cry. They’d better not shout – I’m telling you why – Santa Claus is coming to town. He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice – He’s gonna find out whose naughty or nice …”. I promise I won’t sing again. You know the rest anyway.
Now, if I read all of this correctly then the lesson being taught here is that if those youths want a “gift” then they should be good little boys and girls. The other side of this is that, “If you’re not good, you won’t get a gift”. Do you see the problem? If a person has to do something to get the “gift”, then it’s not a “gift” – it’s a “wage”. I do not believe that any of you who have a job would go to your boss on payday and say, “Thank you for the gift”. Thus, one of the biggest lessons of the holiday season is that a “gift” is really a “wage”.
Having this lesson flashed and sung in our faces all of our lives, when we come to the Word of God and read a scripture like, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” – we may without realizing it substitute the word “wage”. Then we go about to try and earn that which God has freely given. A real “gift” does not require us to work – the work was done by Jesus Christ for us.
How about this scripture?
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”
If we adhere to the red-suited philosophy of the season, we read this to say, “… it is the wage of God”. So many Christians still get caught up in the struggle to do works so that God would love them, so that God would save them, so that God would not punish them – all of these are fruitless works in the face of the free GIFT of salvation that God has provided through Jesus Christ. It is not a wage but a free gift – the work was done by Jesus Christ. All your works and struggling will not get God to love you any more because He already loves you with all that He is for It Is Written,
I John 4:10
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.”
So, let’s keep the record straight, a gift is a gift and a wage is a wage. When God gives “gifts” all we need say is “Thank you” and then enjoy what for us is free because He paid for it with the life of His son. Let’s not read the lessons of the world into the Word of God.