“Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things He has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. ... They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans 1:20-21,25 NRSV)

In these verses the Apostle Paul starts an argument that continues through the first three chapters of the Letter to the Romans, including verse 3:9: “…for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin.” It is not only those who make idols who confuse what is created with the One who created. Paul’s argument ends with the Good News of Jesus Christ who offers all sinners (even us) redemption through his death on the cross for our sake.

You have probably never heard these verses quoted at Christmastime, but it seems to me that this business of “worshiping and serving the creature rather than the Creator” is timely for our holiday season. We all have a tendency to focus on the things and gifts of the season, and we forget that gifts have been coming our way throughout the year. We also forget that no gift has value in itself… it is valuable because of its giver, and it is of greatest value to us when it points us to the giver.

Have you ever visited a friend and seen a gift that you gave on the mantle or elsewhere in the house? You might say, “You still got that old thing?” and they might respond, “Yes, because you gave it to me.” Our gifts do say something to people about who we are. Whether our gifts might be called obvious Christian, subtle Christian, or non-Christian, they may say more about our faith and life than we care to admit. Think about it. We who are called Christians would hope that our gifts not only express who we are, but point to the Christ who frees us and gives us new life.

For a world caught up in idolatry (this is when we confuse the creation with the Creator) it is all the more important that our gifts point to the one who provides all things. My hope for all of us this Christmas season is not that we find the right “thing” to give. I hope that we find ways to give that help our people see the Ultimate Giver and give Him the glory. Let me know how you make out.

“How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given;

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.”

- Phillips Brooks

“… Whoever receives me receives Him who sent me.”

(John 13:20, also Matthew 10:40, Mark 9:37, Luke 9:48)