Christmas: giving and giving up!
Shouldn’t we be speechless when we ponder what Jesus gave up for us?
By Tim
Callaway
Special to ChristianWeek
In Peter Newman’s latest book, Titans:
How the New Canadian Establishment Seized Power, he
identifies fashion designer Peter Nygard as one of these
titans for whom "self-worth equals net worth."
Nygard’s house in the Bahamas is a colossal
dwelling covering 100,000 square feet. By comparison,
the mansion owned by Bill Gates of Microsoft fame is less
than half as large.
Home-sweet-home for Nygard consists of a series of interconnected pods that include professional-size tennis, volleyball and basketball courts which can be transformed into covered runways for fashion shows. Electric carts transport guests throughout the monstrosity. The multi-millionaire plans to turn the peninsula on which his home is situated into a bird sanctuary, with free-flying peacocks, parrots, flamingos and other photogenic winged creatures.
Imagine Peter Nygard voluntarily giving up his incredible environs to live on the street. For a week, a month, a year. For 33 years. It’s happened before.
In 2 Cor. 9:15, St. Paul writes of Christ: "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift" (NASB). This indescribable gift is why Christians maintain that Christmas is about giving. The giving we do during Advent reflects our appreciation for and our practical response to the greatest Gift ever given. (Forgive me, but as a pastor, part of the wonder I experience as I wander during Advent concerns how much describing is expected of us concerning the indescribable.)
Attitude of Christ
However, in Phil. 2:5-8, Paul advises us that the essence of what believers celebrate at Christmas also involves giving up. While we traditionally associate giving up with Lent, it should also be a prominent component in our understanding of the Incarnation. The apostle counsels that at all times our attitude is to be that of Christ, who "did not demand and cling to his rights as God" (NLT), "did not regard equality with God something to be grasped" (NIV, NASB). Rather, Christ "emptied" himself. That is, he "laid aside His privileges" (NASB); he "laid aside His mighty power and glory" (NLT).
The real wonder of Christmas is not only that God gave us Jesus, but that Jesus gave up both the splendor of heaven and the rights that were properly his as God to embrace the humility of being born in a barn where even the animals looked down on him.
I would be astounded if Peter Nygard gave up his palace. I should be speechless in pondering that the King of Kings gave up the glories of his heavenly palace to encounter poverty, homelessness and ultimate rejection by those he created!
So I’ll give up saying anymore.
Tim Callaway is a Calgary pastor.
