23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24
Christmas is the season of gift giving. This is the season of presents. Ask any 5 year-old in our midst and they can tell you that, and this is a wonderful thing as we celebrate the ultimate gift of Christ. But there are some rules that go along with gift giving and one of them can be found here in this instruction from Jesus. If you would seek to make an offering, a freewill gift to God, you may not do so while there is something between you and your neighbor. That gift will not be accepted. Instead, you should leave it and go make things right with your brother first. In the same way, the nicest Christmas present will not cover up sin between you and your neighbor. This is a lie that you will hear in countless commercials. “Have you been a distant husband, make up for it with this beautiful neckless!” “Have you been failing as a mother, well just splurge a little extra this holiday season. This gift will say sorry for you.” No, it will not! Your mouth must say sorry for you. That gift will never do the trick. All the blessing of that gift that you intend will not be realized by the giftee when there is strife between you. Proverbs 17:1 “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.”
So, leave the gift at the door and first go in and make things right. Rather than trying to make up for your wrongs with your wallet, humble yourself, confess your sins to those you have wronged and don’t hold any sin back. Once you do that, then bring on the gift-giving and it will be bless-ed. This applies to our interaction with the city of Troy as well. We are seeking to bless our neighbors by contributing to the Christmas celebration and with Christmas caroling. But that gift will not be received if you are holding onto any malice in your hearts towards them. Confess this first and go to your neighbor if you have sinned against them with sideways words or actions, make things right. We are fighting back against the world, but we must do so like our Father, with peace and goodwill toward men.
Zach Browning – December 3, 2023
