And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply John said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." (Luke 3:10-11 NRSV Bible)
This day was no exception. He waited anxiously for the postal clerk to weigh his packages and give him his stamps. His irritation quickly increased when he overheard a shabbily dressed man ask another clerk for $50 worth of Madonna stamps! "What corrupt influence is the government supplying society with now?" he thought. "Wasn't Elvis enough?" As the clerk in the next stall came to his clerk for extra stamps, he leaned forward to catch a glimpse of what vile picture of Madonna the old man was buying. Surprise, embarrassment, and finally laughter engulfed him as he realized that the picture on the stamps was not Madonna the rock star but the Madonna, Mary, the mother of Jesus!

John the Baptist's role was to prepare the people for the coming of Mary's son Jesus Christ. As John prepares us, he also reminds us that if you have been blessed with much, share it.

Christmas is a time of sharing. Many charities, including your church, receive most of their donations during the Christmas season. We will drop money into Salvation Army kettles, we will write checks to worthy community projects, some of us will make an end-of-the-year contributions to your church. There is something about this season that helps us see beyond ourselves to the needs of others.

In a stewardship drive one of the members sent the pastor the following letter: Dear Pastor, In reply to your request to send a check I wish to inform you that the present condition of my bank account makes it almost impossible. My shattered financial condition is due to federal laws, state laws, county laws, corporation laws, mother-in-laws, brother-in-laws, and outlaws. Through these laws I am compelled to pay a business tax, amusement tax, head tax, school tax, gas tax, light tax, water tax, sales tax, even my brains are taxed. I am required to get a business license, a dog license, not to mention a marriage license. I am also required to contribute to every organization or society which the genius of man is capable of bringing to life--including the Red Cross, the purple cross, and the double cross. For my own safety I am required to carry life insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, accident insurance, burglar insurance, business insurance, earthquake insurance, tornado insurance, unemployment insurance, fire insurance. I am inspected, expected, respected, dejected, rejected, examined, reexamined, informed, reformed, summoned, fined, commanded, and compelled until I supply an inexhaustible supply of money for every known need, desire or hope of the human race. Simply because I refuse to donate something or other, I'm boycotted, talked about, lied about, held up, held down, robbed until I am ruined! I can tell you honestly, had not the unexpected happened I could not enclose this check. The wolf that comes to so many doors now-a-days, just had pups in the kitchen, I sold them, and here's the money.

There are times when we most certainly feel the way this church member did. We have to make choices about how and where we spend our money. And yet the gift of Christmas is a gift that must be passed on to be enjoyed. Christ comes into our lives bringing unmerited love. Our enjoyment of Christmas will be proportional to the joy we bring to others through our sharing.

Dear God, thanks for sharing your Son with me. May I also be generous in my sharing. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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