One of my favourite youth group traditions is our annual Secret Santa. Each year at our Christmas break up, we each purchase a present worth $5 and gift it to someone else in the group. Some years we’ve bought for a specific person, and others we’ve bought generic gifts to be used in a game where you get to pick gifts, trade them and steal them from others. It’s always a hilarious and chaotic time because most of us get competitive with our gift giving and receiving. Some kids are really into it and pick funny, thoughtful gifts. Others completely miss the point and buy something thoughtless or irrelevant (which is still funny most of the time). This time at youth is always fun, but it’s also a mini glimpse into the reality of Christmas.
Obviously a big part of the Christmas season is giving. We exchange gifts with family, friends, co-workers and often we make an annual contribution toward our favourite charity. But sometimes our giving can get caught up in materialism, competition, or just become a thoughtless obligation. Our lives are so full that meaningful giving is often lost at this time of year because we just don’t have the space to make it happen. So how do we make sure we’re truly giving the way Jesus would want in this season?
After the birth of Jesus, Magi came from afar to visit Jesus. Not only did they present him with gifts, but they bowed down and worshipped him. These men gave their time, valuable possessions and their worship to Jesus. Their gifts were not given out of obligation or competition; they were given to honour the king and reveal his value. These gifts expressed the joy of the wise men at the coming of the promised Messiah. One more sentence to tie this in.

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