把焦點放在禮物和禮物的給予者
By Robert J. Tamasy
隨著聖誕節即將來臨，我們大多數人都滿懷著期待。當然，這些期待是來自我們如何看待這個假期。對許多人來說，它意味著一年的結束，是充滿各種聚會和活動的季節，或者是日常工作中喘息的一個機會。但是對另外一些人來說，聖誕節是一種煩惱，是對「每日固定作息生活」不必要的干擾。這些人就像查爾斯‧狄更斯的經典之作「聖誕頌歌」中的主角財主史古基對其他人大喊著：「聖誕節是騙人的！」一樣，認為耶誕節是不必要的。
純粹主義者認為聖誕節是對耶穌基督誕生(上帝以人的形式來到這個世界)的隆重慶祝。在某種程度上，我們大多數人都把聖誕節看作是送禮和收禮的時候。但是，很少有人會想到送禮的人。也許今年我們應該要做一些改變。
聖誕節的焦點是禮物和送禮者。一段熟悉的聖經經文告訴我們：「神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，凡相信他的，都不至滅亡，只有永生」（約翰福音3章16節）。在這節經文中，我們讀到了送禮-父神和祂給的禮物-神的兒子耶穌基督。
令人驚訝的是，一個單一的事件： 在一個名叫伯利恆的偏遠城鎮裡的一個嬰兒誕生，會產生如此持久的全球影響。在許多國家、每個大陸都以各種方式慶祝耶穌的誕生。雖然聖誕節的日子因文化而異，但它們都圍繞著一個宣告：「道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。」（約翰福音1章14節）
耶穌在世時過著模範無罪的生活；祂教導我們無論如何都能運作的信仰原則；在十字架上死去，使基督徒相信這是對世界上所有罪惡的一勞永逸的贖罪；從死裡復活，不僅戰勝死亡，而且還給任何願意接受這一個獨特禮物的人永生。「凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄作 神的兒女。」（約翰福音1章12節）。另一段經文說：「因為罪的工價乃是死；惟有 神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裏，乃是永生」。（羅馬書6章23節）。
所以我們看到了個很明顯的區別：當我們在聖誕節期間收到禮物或把禮物送給他人時，我們的重點是禮物：「我會得到什麼？」或「他們會喜歡我給他們的禮物嗎？」但是聖誕節的重點原本是上帝的禮物-上帝的兒子耶穌基督，我們也應該把焦點放在給予我們禮物的上帝，因為祂給罪人驚人的禮物是饒恕，這反映了祂的愛、恩典和憐憫，只要我們願意都可以免費得到這樣的禮物。
除了饒恕之外，我們也有了新生活的機會，一個新的開始。正如哥林多後書5章17節所說的：「若有人在基督裏，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。」
在這個聖誕季節，大家都在慶祝、分享美食、和家人和朋友共度時光、交換禮物。許多人參加聚會、做節慶的崇拜..等等，但是我希望你能花一點時間來思想我們仁慈的送禮者上帝，以及祂給我們禮物-「耶穌基督。」
© 2018. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
當你想到聖誕節，第一個會聯想到甚麼？ 你覺得為什麼送禮物在很多聖誕節的活動當中很重要？ 你把聖誕節當成是宗教和歷史的紀念日或者還有更深刻意義的日子？解釋你的答案。 想到聖經告訴我們，耶穌基督已經給我們的赦罪和永恆生命的禮物時，你覺得自己已經得到了這些禮物嗎？
備註：如果你手上有聖經想要閱讀更多和這個主題相關的經文，請參考下面的經文: (因經文較長，考慮到篇幅和新舊約經文，您可以參閱下列未列出的經文:馬太福音6章1-12節)
路加福音2章1-20節
2:1 當那些日子，凱撒奧古斯都有旨意下來，叫天下人民都報名上冊。
2:2 這是居里扭作敘利亞巡撫的時候，頭一次行報名上冊的事。
2:3 眾人各歸各城，報名上冊。
2:4 約瑟也從加利利的拿撒勒城上猶太去，到了大衛的城，名叫伯利恆，因他本是大衛一族一家的人，
2:5 要和他所聘之妻馬利亞一同報名上冊。那時馬利亞的身孕已經重了。
2:6 他們在那裏的時候，馬利亞的產期到了，
2:7 就生了頭胎的兒子，用布包起來，放在馬槽裏，因為客店裏沒有地方。
2:8 在伯利恆之野地裏有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群。
2:9 有主的使者站在他們旁邊，主的榮光四面照著他們；牧羊的人就甚懼怕。
2:10 那天使對他們說：「不要懼怕！我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的；
2:11 因今天在大衛的城裏，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。
2:12 你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裏，那就是記號了。」
2:13 忽然，有一大隊天兵同那天使讚美 神說：
2:14 在至高之處榮耀歸與 神！在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人（有古卷：喜悅歸與人）！
2:15 眾天使離開他們，升天去了。牧羊的人彼此說：「我們往伯利恆去，看看所成的事，就是主所指示我們的。」
2:16 他們急忙去了，就尋見馬利亞和約瑟，又有那嬰孩臥在馬槽裏；
2:17 既然看見，就把天使論這孩子的話傳開了。
2:18 凡聽見的，就詫異牧羊之人對他們所說的話。
2:19 馬利亞卻把這一切的事存在心裏，反覆思想。
2:20 牧羊的人回去了，因所聽見所看見的一切事，正如天使向他們所說的，就歸榮耀與 神，讚美他。
約翰福音 1章12-14節
1:12 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄作 神的兒女。
1:13 這等人不是從血氣生的，不是從情慾生的，也不是從人意生的，乃是從 神生的。
1:14 道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。
FOCUSING ON THE GIFT – AND THE GIVER
By Robert J. Tamasy
With another Christmas just the wink of an eye away, most of us are filled with expectations. These expectations, of course, are based upon how we perceive the annual holiday. For many, it marks the end of the calendar year, a time for seasonal parties and events, and perhaps a chance to take a break from day-to-day workplace demands. For some, Christmas is an annoyance, an unnecessary interruption to “life as usual.” Such people align with Scrooge, the star of Charles Dickens”s classic, A Christmas Carol,wishing “bah humbug!” to everyone daring to exhibit a festive holiday spirit.
Purists regard Christmas as a solemn celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the arrival of God to earth in human form. Most of us, to some degree, see Christmas as a time for gift giving – and gift receiving. Little thought, however, is devoted to gift givers. Maybe that should change.
Because at its heart, Christmas is about both the gift and the gift giver. A familiar Bible passage tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). In this single verse we read about both the Giver, God the Father, and the Gift, Jesus Christ the Son.
It is amazing that a single event – the birth of a baby in a remote town called Bethlehem – would have such an enduring, worldwide impact. In many nations, on every continent, Jesus” birth is celebrated in a variety of ways. Traditions for how the day is observed differ from culture to culture, but they all revolve about a singular declaration: “The Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14).
This Jesus went on to live an exemplary, sinless life; taught principles that work regardless of one”s belief system; died on a cross, making what Christians believe to be the once and for all atonement for the sins of the world; and rose from the dead, demonstrating not only victory over death but also the offer of eternal life to anyone who would accept this unique gift: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Another passage states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23).
So we see a clear distinction. When we receive gifts during the Christmas season, or give them to others, our focus is on the gifts. “What will I receive?” or “Will they like what I am giving to them?” The central, original gift of Christmas – the Son of God – also encourages us to concentrate on the Giver, whose amazing gift of forgiveness for our sins reflects His love, grace and mercy, available to all who would receive this gift offered freely to them.
But this gift goes far beyond just forgiveness, because it also presents to us the opportunity of new life, a fresh start. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
This Christmas, amid the festivities, sharing of good food, enjoying time with family and friends, exchanging of gifts, and for many of us, the assembling for celebratory worship, I hope you take time also to reflect, to ponder of the benevolence of the Giver, as well as the arrival of the Gift.
© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
When you think of Christmas, what are the first things that come to your mind? Why do you think gift-giving is such an important part of many Christmas observances? Do you view the birth of Jesus Christ just as a religious or historical event, or as something of much deeper significance? Explain your answer. In considering the gifts of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins, as promised in the Scriptures, are these gifts you believe you have personally received? Why or why not?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-4,12-14; Romans 5:1-2,8; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; Galatians 2:20
