We love getting gifts, and some of us might even love giving gifts. Many will cite this to be the best part of the holiday, but have you ever asked yourself why we're giving each other gifts? Who started that trend and why is one gift not enough?

On the 4^th Day of Christmas, Corporations Convinced Us We Needed Lots of Gifts

Introduction

The gifts we give are connected to the fact that the wise men brought gifts to God—or at least that's what every preacher or Sunday school teacher I asked as a child claimed. If we are mimicking the fact that the magi gave gifts to Jesus, though, why are we giving gifts to each other? I've had people use "Jesus lives inside of us" to explain away the gift giving. The question remains, however, are we giving gifts to God each year when buy presents for our friends and family? (Or are we just playing into the hands of corporations and capitalism?)

Birthdays

I touched on birthdays in Day 2: The Origin of December 25. By studying the Wrd, it is obvious that birthday celebrations were considered of pagan origin. Giving gifts to someone for their birthday is not a tradition mandated by God. The wise men brought gifts to Jesus, though we are not told when they arrive. Many assume they arrive right after He is born, but after learning the wise men are seeking the Messiah, King Herod has all males under 2 years old killed. This suggests that a great deal of time may have passed between Jesus' birth and the wise men's arrival.

Regardless, they brought Jesus gifts because He is the Messiah! It says nothing about them bringing Mary and Joseph gifts. There is no documentation that the disciples started exchanging gifts in honor of Jesus. The tradition of giving gifts to each other in recognition of Messiah's birthday is man made—probably rooted in Santa Claus. It's part of captialism and serves to make companies rich. Wouldn't it make more sense to give something to God that day?

Note, this doesn't inherently mean it is wrong to give gifts; let's keeping digging, shall we?

Gifts For God

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:34-40 KJV

Jesus does say that when we do for His followers ("brethren") that we are doing for Him. Yet, if you look at the examples Jesus gives, none of this suggests the gift giving nature of Christmas. The list of "gifts" Jesus proclaims His saints gave deal with helping someone in need. He was hungry—which only occurs when you don't have food—and we gave Him food; He was thirsty—again implying He didn't have something to drink—and we gave Him something to drink. Most of the gifts given at Christmas are things we want, not things we need.

How many people use the holiday season to buy food for the homeless people in their community? Pay the electric bill for the needy so they don't freeze (most companies offer this option by the way, you simply check a box and add the amount you want to donate to your bill)? People put themselves in debt trying to impress their spouse or "give their child a good Christmas." That doesn't seem to be what Jesus is suggesting we do in Matthew 25...

There are passages in the Bible in which God mentions giving gifts (such as a dowry or when Jacob sends gifts to seek mercy and forgiveness from Esau), but there are also warnings about gifts. In Exodus 23:8, we are told not to take gifts that would cloud our judgment when we are in decision making positions. More relevantly, pertaining to the end times (the age we live in), we are told that when the 2 witnesses are killed, people will rejoice and send gifts to each other.[1] When gifts are mentioned positively, they almost always involve us giving gifts directly to God through service or receiving gifts from God.

In general, I see nothing wrong with getting things for people. The issue is motive and tradition. Are you giving a gift to help this person? Are you thinking about God? Are you able to give? Or are you doing this out of habit? Are you giving because you want to receive, because you think they will expect a gift?[2] Are you following pagan and man made traditions? This changes everything. We are not to worry about material things because our rewards are in heaven, which means we shouldn't be asking for things we don't need, let alone a mountain of presents.

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19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21 KJV

Other Posts in this Series

• The 12 Days of Christmas
• 🔡 Day 1: The Etymology of Christmas
• 📆 Day 2: The Origin of December 25
• 🎅🏻 Day 3: The History of Santa Claus
• 🎁 Day 4: The Tradition of Giving Gifts
• 💡 Day 5: Lights of the Season
• 💥 Day 6: The War on Christmas
• 🎵 Day 7: Carol of the Bells
• 😢 Day 8: Depression and Christmas
• 🎄 Day 9: The Colors of Christmas
• ⛄️ Day 10: Frosty the Snowman & Co. 
• 🇺🇸 Day 11: When Christmas as Un-American
• 🤔 Day 12: The True Meaning of Christmas

References

1. Revelation 11:10
2. I remember in high school it was a thing to bring gifts to school for your friends (probably since most of us had jobs and could actually buy things). The most awkward thing was when someone bought you a gift but you didn't buy them one, or vice versa. Usually this would be followed with a lie about how you had forgotten their present and you would run out that night to get them something and bring it the next day. This is the type of buying just to buy, buying out of habit and tradition, issue I'm talking about. This isn't even thoughtful gift giving! I don't think this is what God wants from us.