Giving vs. Exchanging

In today’s Christmas remembrance, Jeff Stone shares about a Christmas present he once bought for his father, Sam E. Stone, who served as editor of Christian Standard from 1978 to 2003.  

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By Jeff Stone 

When we give, we often expect reciprocation. We do a favor for someone realizing that the favor may one day be returned. We buy someone’s lunch, typically expecting they will purchase our lunch the next time we go out. We send Christmas cards to those who sent us Christmas cards. We give gifts to those whom we know are buying gifts for us.  

This isn’t inherently evil, and it’s not a sin, but this conditional approach isn’t really giving . . . it is exchanging. Giving is greater than exchanging. 

When I was 3 years old, my mother took me downtown to shop for Christmas. We stopped for lunch and I proudly displayed the plastic model horse I had purchased as a gift for my Dad.  

“It’s for my Dad,” I told the lady seated beside me.  

“Oh, does your daddy like horses?” she asked.  

“No, but I sure do!” I answered. (At least I was honest!) 

As much fun as it is to receive a gift, please consider that Jesus taught that giving a gift is even better. Giving is greater than exchanging.  

Jesus said, 

When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (Luke 14:12-14). 

Jesus taught that when we have a party or host an event, we should invite not only our friends, but we should reach out and welcome the poor, the disadvantaged. Jesus taught don’t just ask your brothers to come, but also be considerate to those who might otherwise be overlooked.  

Jesus said don’t use the event to network with your rich neighbors; instead, let it be an occasion to include those people who rarely receive invitations to such a gathering. 

I know of twin sisters who live in another state. They are a little “slower” and have speech impediments. Their personal hygiene practices aren’t the best. They are minimum-wage discount store workers. They are the type of people who are overlooked by most. But they have been loved, accepted, and embraced by their church.  

When they turned 30, some people at their church got together to furnish a very special birthday celebration that communicated “we love you” to these sisters in a way they had never previously experienced.   

Christmas should really be about the marginalized being loved by Jesus through the kind thoughtfulness of his people. 

This is truly giving. Anything else is simply exchanging.  

Jeff Stone—lead minister with Batesville (Ind.) Christian Church—has enjoyed a lifelong passion for owning and breeding quality horses. This spring, two of his Saddlebred mares will produce the 99th and 100th horses that he has owned. He really does like horses!