Since we have been in the Christmas season for 3 weeks, that’s right Christmas season officially starts on the 11th of November the day after the Marine Corps’ birthday, anyway, since we are in the Christmas season, I want to give you some gift advice.

• Make sure your gift is age appropriate. (Don’t give Superman underwear) to a high schooler.

• As much as you want to get rid of a bad gift, don’t re-gift it.

• Do not by a fitness membership or weight watchers’ memberships.

• Socks are ok if they are really cool, like these. Do not give Chief socks to anyone.

• Noooooooo hygiene products. Nothing says you’re a filthy animal like deodorant or a toothbrush

• No knock offs. Seriously, if you don’t care enough to send the very best…don’t send.

• Guys as much as you want to make your wife’s life easier, do not by her a vacuum or a new washing machine.

• No McDonald’s gift cards, even to your grandchildren. Just take them.

• Self-improvement books. Nothing tells the receiver that they suck at life more than one of those.

• Noisy objects except for the grandchildren to take home

• Don’t mask a stupid gift in a cool box. Don’t put a bunch of hot wheels in an Xbox box.

I am sure that everyone of us can think of at least one gift that we wished we never got. One that we can laugh at now but at the time it was a horrible gift. Don’t be that person ok.

Let’s read our main text. Matthew 2:1-11

What is the best gift you ever received, besides your salvation? I have 2 people that are willing to share their best or favorite present was.

Has anyone ever in their lifetime gotten more than one gift that was very special or the best gift ever?

I know I have received several great gifts throughout the years from Cheryl and my kids and my parents and of course God gave us the greatest gift of all if we accept the gift, which is Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. There’s a gift that can’t be outdone.

When it comes to God what gifts do you have to offer? Point #1

1. Do you give God your gift of time?

Matthew 2:1-2, 16, Ephesians 5:15-16

I know many of you play the “which” event are we going to next, roulette. Between school programs, ball games, outings, shopping, house work, regular work and all that other stuff.

We seem to be so busy; I know Jaxon has games coming up, Naomi already has games that I don’t go to as much as I want. I had to organize the pastors bringing stuff for the Thanksgiving meal that Danielle McKay hosted at our church. Set up for Wednesday night bible study, school, (I would like to say that I had to study for, but I didn’t), putting up Christmas lights, and I could go on and on. You all understand what is means to be busy.

I really have to stop from time to time and reflect on what is important. I can get so busy doing things for the church that I can forget to spend time with God. Reading the bible, enjoying the friendship of other believers, praying and so many ways to spend time with God.

Do we live our lives as the wise or like fools? Are we making the most of every opportunity? Kind of like one of the worst gifts was a McDonald’s gift card for your grandchildren, taking them to McDonald’s and spending time with them is so much more important.

I heard it said that we are human beings, not human doings. Not that we shouldn’t be doing things for God, but we shouldn’t get so busy doing things that we forget to be still know that He is God. Just spend time with God. Being with God and getting to know Him is how you find out what He wants your to be doing.

2. Do you give God your treasures?

Matthew 2:11, II Corinthians 9:6-8

Anybody have that one possession that really means a lot to you? Maybe it is a family heirloom or a gift from someone special that can not be replaced?

I used to collect Coca-Cola memorabilia. Now, I used to have a lot of it. I could have filled 2 or 3 of those flea market booths with better Coke stuff that what you will find today. I had a Coke machine. I had a Coke bicycle, radio, clocks, bottles, bobble head dolls and many, many other things.

One thing, Dad gave me a commemorative Christmas Coke plate when I was in high school. I still have that plate to this day. When I sold my collection, that was one of the few things that I didn’t sell and it is so important that if I can find it, I will probably pass it on to Kyli sometime in the future, so that is will be hers to feel guilty if she gets rid of it.

Many times, we think of things as being something that cannot be replaced. We like to think of our possessions as ours to do with what we want and when we want. What if God said, “Give those up?” Remember the rich young ruler story in the bible? He asked Jesus what he has to do to have eternal life. First Jesus said, to obey the commandments, which the man was already doing and then he told him to go and sell everything he had and give to the poor and then he would have eternal life. He went away sad because his treasures were here on earth, his stuff, his home, his money. What about you? Are there things that you need to give to God that you are holding back?

God doesn’t want you to give because you feel like you have to, God wants you to give because you want to. What kind of a gift is given because you “have to” give? You must each decide in your heart how much to give (and what to give). And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Moving on from our stuff, what else can we give? Point 3…

3. Do you give God your worship?

Matthew 2:2, 11&12, Psalm 100

On Wednesday, the church gave Abundant Grace, Big Boy Ministries our church van. We received such a blessing with our new bus, that, as Butch said, “if we didn’t give it to them, it would be like slapping God in the face” God blessed us and our cup was overflowing, and God blessed Big Boy Ministries through our act of worship and obedience.

In the late 1990’s Matt Redman wrote a song called “Heart of Worship”. He wrote this song when the pastor of the church made a change in the church services for a “season”. I don’t know how long this season was, but what the pastor did was he turned off the sound system, and got rid of the band, no instruments, no microphones, just voices singing to God.

The pastor felt like the church was singing but they were being more of consumers, instead of producers of worship. Pastor Mike asked, “When you come through those doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”

For a little while there was nothing but some embarrassing silence, but eventually some of the people started singing a cappella songs and had some heartfelt prayers.

If you haven’t gotten your letter from the church yet, the checks in the mail, just kidding, it is on its way. In the letter, it talks about how God has truly blessed the church and what some of our future plans are. It even talks about how we are getting back to pre-COVID numbers in attendance.

That really does my heart well. But numbers are not everything. There were times in Jesus’ ministry that thousands of people came to be consumers of worship and not producers. They were in it for what they could get out of it and when the road became difficult and Jesus was being crucified where were all those people?

If you are coming to church to be consumers of worship, instead of producers of worship, today is the day to make that change in your life. It is great to come to church expecting God to show up, when He shows up are you, in your heart bowing in worship.

What gifts are you bringing to the Lord? When the Wise men left, they went home a different way because the Lord told them to do so. What if they hadn’t been obedient? All that they had done would have been for not. Their gift to God, was their time, treasures, worship and their obedience.

What gifts are you bringing to God?

What Gifts Do You Bring?