Article January 14, 1905 Issue

The Gospel of Giving

ELIZABETH EARL JONES.

At each Christmas season the whole Christian world with one accord lays aside the weight of dogma and religious contention, to unite anew in friendly endeavor to fathom the secret of Jesus' joy, and to discover in each expectant heart some sign of the never-ceasing activities of divine Love.

It is a quaint and pleasant custom, this giving of gifts at Christmastide, and it illustrates to the more thoughtful a valuable lesson; namely, that infinite Love is ever beautiful and unlimited in manifestation. Little deeds of tenderness, thoughtfulness, kindness, and self-sacrifice, ever follow and multiply ad infinitum in the wake of Love. There are myriad and unt ld opportunities ever presenting themselves for those who love to serve in helpful ways both great and small, which seem not to be visible to those who do not love. We therefore learn to measure the quality and quantity of our love according to its radiation. In the New Testament, from beginning to end, we may trace one unbroken gospel of giving. First of all we read that God gave through His Son a revelation of Himself, that all might look to him and learn the way of salvation.

In the life of the loving Jesus we read in living letters the divine definition of giving. Through spiritual understanding and divine compassion Jesus gave sight to the blind, feet to the lame, health to the sick, joy to the sorrowing, life to the dying, and guided sinners in the way of purity and goodness, teaching them the loving kindness of God by demonstrating for himself that loving kindness to the repentant sinner. As Paul says of Jesus, "He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Dearest of all earthly gifts, he gave himself in holy consecration.

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