Why do we give gifts at Christmas?
Here's the answer:
We give gifts at Christmas because it resembles how the Magi, or wisemen, gave gifts to Jesus.
Giving gifts at Christmas is not what Christmas is all about; however, it is commonly associated with the holiday. When we think of Christmas, we often think about unwrapping fun gifts and seeing our family members open their gifts, too. The reason that we give gifts at Christmas is because we are following the tradition of the Magi giving gifts to the Lord. When the Magi visited Jesus, they gave him three gifts: frankincense, gold, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).
Similar to how the Magi presented gifts to the Lord, we give gifts to our loved ones. While it is absolutely possible and tempting to focus our entire attention on gifts, it is not the reason for the holiday. Whether we have gifts on Christmas or not, we are still celebrating the anniversary of the Lord’s birth. We shouldn't allow gifts to distract us from the true meaning of Christmas, but we also don’t need to try to label them as something bad.
Giving to others is actually encouraged in the Bible (Matthew 5:42; Luke 6:38). We are also told that all good gifts come from the Father (James 1:17). The greatest gift we have been given is the Lord Jesus Christ. Even when you are getting and giving gifts at Christmas, you can always remember that the gift of salvation through Jesus is the greatest gift of all. It gives us the promise of eternity with Him, where there will be no more pain, tears, or death (Revelation 21:4).
Bible Truth
"The godly are always giving and lending freely. Their children will be a blessing" (Psalm 37:26).
"A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
"When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh" (Matthew 2:10–11).
