Beyond the Manger; Living a life of Christ-Centered Generosity

    

    The Christmas season draws our gaze back to the manger—to the silent, holy night where God first visited humanity (at least its supposed to). But the story of Christmas doesn't end in Bethlehem; it begins a life of service that challenges us to look for Christ in the most unexpected places.

    What if we were waiting for the Lord in glory while He was already standing at our door in disguise?

    One of the most beautiful Christmas poems ever told, was by an American poet Edwin Markham. The poem is called "How the Great Guest Came in"  His story centers on a cobbler, a godly man who made shoes. 

    This cobbler had a dream that the next day Jesus was coming to visit his shop. The dream seemed so real that he rose early, gathering green boughs to decorate his shop, preparing for the arrival of so great a Guest. The cobbler did not want to be unprepared if Jesus was indeed coming to pay him a visit.

    He waited all morning, but his shop remained quiet. His first visitor was an old man who limped up to the door asking for a few minutes of warmth. Noticing the old fellow’s shoes were worn through, the kind cobbler took a new pair from his shelves and sent the stranger on his way with warm, dry feet.

    Throughout the afternoon, his only other visitors was an elderly woman struggling under a heavy load of firewood, whom he fed, and a lost, crying child outside his door, whom he comforted and personally escorted home.

    As night began to fall, the cobbler was heartbroken. He was absolutely convinced he had missed his Lord's visit. In his anguish, he cried out in prayer:

    "Why is it, Lord, that Your feet delay. Have you forgotten that this was the day?"

    Then, soft in the silence, a voice he heard:

"Lift up your heart for I kept My word. Three times I came to your friendly door; Three times My shadow was on your floor. I was the man with the bruised feet. I was the woman you gave food to eat, I was the child on the homeless street."

The King’s Final Word on Service

    This powerful story finds its foundation in the very words of Jesus Christ, reminding us that true devotion is not just found in spiritual aspirations, but in practical moments of compassion. 

    Jesus was describing the final judgment when He spoke these words, revealing how our actions toward others reflect our true relationship with Him:

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory. And all nations shall be gathered before Him. And He shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. And indeed He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats off the left. Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?’ And the King shall answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40, ESV)

    This is more than a self-help message; it is a Gospel truth. Our ability to generously serve others should flow directly from the love and saving grace we receive from Christ. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are blessed of the Father and inherit the kingdom—and our works of service become the evidence of that internal transformation.

What If It Was Jesus?

    Today, I want to challenge you to begin to live a life of generosity by looking at everyone in need as if they were Christ. How would you give differently, treat them differently, and see them differently? If Jesus was the one struggling to keep food on the table for his family, would you go buy some groceries? If Jesus was the one who was standing on the street holding a sign asking for help, would you drive by him? If Jesus was the one who was hurting, discouraged, and depressed, would you spend sometime listening and trying to encourage him? 

    I hope we are reminded of those words we will one day hear from God: "Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to Me". Let our Christmas season, and our entire lives, be defined by finding and serving the King wherever He appears.

3 Practical Steps for Christ-Centered Generosity

Serve the "Unworthy" Guest: Look beyond the traditional places of service. This week, seek out someone who might seem "unworthy" of your time or attention—perhaps someone who is difficult, marginalized, or overlooked. Treat them with the dignity and respect you would offer Jesus Himself.

Give of Your Best: When you give this Christmas, whether it is food, clothing, or your time, make it sacrificial, not merely leftovers. The cobbler gave a new pair of shoes. Jesus gave us eternal life that He paid for with His own blood. So give of your best resources, time, and attention, remembering that the action is for the King of Glory!

Offer Hope, Not Just Help (Gospel Focus): When serving someone's physical need, pray for an open door to share the source of your hope. Tell them that Jesus came to Earth to offer eternal life, and that your act of service flows from the forgiveness and love you received through faith in Him. The greatest need is always to be reconciled to God.