Tis the Season . . . | The Institute for Creation Research

 
Tis the Season . . .
 

December is connected with gift-giving—sometimes for the wrong reasons. All of us have felt the pressure to "buy" something for family and/or friends. Our private conversations sometimes bemoan the obligations we feel to "get something" for so-and-so. Churches, mission organizations, humanitarian endeavors, endless charities—all try in one way or another to tweak the subtle pressure of "the season" in their respective favor.

The celebration of our Lord's physical birth into this world is certainly worthy of remembrance. But most of the world only "remembers" that the wise men from the east brought gifts to the baby Jesus—and use that event as justification for the Christmas celebration. But the reverential honor of the wise men is a far cry from the excessive and self-serving practice that now dominates the "Christian" world.

ICR would ask you to remember why and to Whom we give.

Jesus reserved His harshest criticism to "religious" practice that was either hypocritical or misdirected. In the Matthew 23 passage cited above, He pointed out that the gift itself had replaced the reason for the gift—and the motive of the giver. Perhaps it is worth reviewing some basics of discretionary giving.

The gift should be "unto the Lord" (Leviticus 23:38; Colossians 3:23). Sounds simple, but this calls for conscious dedication and a willing heart.

The gift should be for "the glory of" our Lord (I Corinthians 10:31). Again, sounds simple, but requires us to be careful what our gift may be used for in the hands of others.

The gift should do what "the Lord had commanded" (Numbers 36:2). This may be a little more complicated to insure, but our discretionary giving needs to be placed with those whose heart and ministry is clearly driven to implement and honor God's Word.

Please know that ICR will honor your gift as though it came from God's hand.

Cite this article: Henry M. Morris III, D.Min. 2002. Tis the Season . . .. Acts & Facts. 31 (12).

The Latest
CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
Searching for Truth Across the Globe | Creation.Live Podcast:...
How can we bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of creation to others outside our small spheres of influence?   Host...

NEWS
Marine Mammals: Designed for Deep Diving
While you’re reading this, hold your breath. What is now happening is your blood is delivering the last of oxygenated blood cells to your tissues...

CREATION PODCAST
Humanity's Demise at the Hands of Genetic Entropy | The Creation...
Welcome to the fourth episode in a series called “The Failures of Old Earth Creationism.” Many Christians attempt to fit old earth...

NEWS
''Inside-Out'' Fossil is Amazingly Preserved
It is widely known that vast numbers of fossils—vertebrate and invertebrate—have been discovered incredibly well-preserved.1,2...

NEWS
The Resurrection and the Origin of Life
At Easter time we focus on the cardinal Christian doctrine of the Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, Christianity is a sham. The truth that Jesus...

NEWS
Is an Ancient Extinct Tree-Dweller Our Relative?
Human evolution has always been hazy with seemingly as many attempted explanations for how we evolved from animals as there are paleoanthropologists. Evolutionists...

NEWS
The Return of the Dire Wolf?
There’s been much recent excitement about the birth of three dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) puppies by a Dallas-based biotech company: Colossal Bioscience....

CREATION PODCAST
Cracks in the Layers: Lake Suigetsu and the Old Earth Illusion...
Welcome to the third episode in a series called “The Failures of Old Earth Creationism.” Many Christians attempt to fit old earth...

NEWS
Fish Fossil Vomit
A rather unsavory news story recently appeared regarding fossilized vomit. Although it’s hardly dinner table conversation, it nonetheless supports...

NEWS
Dino Footprints Down Under
Dinosaur trackways1 are once again making the news. Australia is the setting of a remarkable series of dinosaur tracks attributed to ornithischian...