The 12 Ways of Christmas -- Part 4 CHARITY

The fourth chapter in the "The 12 Ways of Christmas" by Dr. David Jeremiah is about Charity.

What do you think of when you hear that word - charity? For me its an organization, a group that gets together to help others - nonprofit. But Dr. Jeremiah is good to remind us that is not to describe a group but rather an action.

Charity can be described as - a charitable act or gesture, motivated by genuine affection and caring.

A famous person that almost everyone knows that showed charity to others was Mother Teresa. She started working with 11 others in 1950 showing care (extending charity) to "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone."

Mary and Joseph can be described as a couple like the above is described. They traveled so far to get to Bethlehem and then once there they had no where to stay. Mary so pregnant she was about to burst and the inn was full. I never caught it before but Dr. Jeremiah points out in the Luke 2:7 it reads "in the inn". Maybe there was just one inn and everyone who had come as they had was already there. But rather then turn them away the Inn Keeper decides to allow them to stay in the stable. Now me I'm a comfort type girl, not big into camping without electricity or indoor plumbing so I had a hard time thinking that this was a very good and charity act on the behave of the inn keeper. But scripture points out in the story Jesus tells about the Good Samaritan that he did what he could and we are to "Go and do likewise".

TO PONDER: How will I show charity to others this season? How will I show affection and caring based on the active response of Christ to our needs. Giving money to charities is commendable, but don't pass up the opportunity God gives you this Christmas to personally "be charitable" to others.