A Christmas Devotional by Kenneth Sullivan

“Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, ‘The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss;

she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.’” (Mark 12:41-44, The Message)

It was Christmas Eve, and the service was rich with organ and cello music depicting the birth of the Christ. The pastor’s message followed, “After Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, What’s Left?” He answered his own question by citing the story of the widow who placed all she had in her offering to God.

The next day my grandson gave me a bag of cookies for a Christmas present and said, “Grandpa, I made them myself.” Every indication was that there was a lot of “myself” in the present, which made it so precious.

After the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, what is left? Myself. And is not that what Christmas is all about? God gave Himself to us. Can I give any greater gift to Him than myself? Here in a moment in time a whole revelation is condensed into a single incident, and eternity stands back at the wonder of it all.

There is a mysterious quality in life, the giving of oneself, a tender independence that assures a relationship with eternal values. And as far as God is concerned, all other phases of life are secondary. Civilization is continually changing in its demands; educational values change; and even theological positions may be altered. But one must never interfere with the eternal quality of the God relationship that asks for the ultimate in devotion.

The Magi came with their gifts, the widow came with her coins, and we have spent centuries measuring the act with our reckoning. But Jesus turns upside down all our favorite calculations and rules of reckoning and mystifies us with His way of understanding. He singles out the poor widow to confound our reasoning.

After gold, frankincense, and myrrh, what’s left? The widow’s mite? My bag of cookies—I made them myself? Yes. Myself. That’s what Jesus wants me to give him. Myself.

O God, You are always giving; we are always asking and receiving. You loved the world so much that you gave—gave your only Son—gave yourself! You gave your all. How amazing! This is the miracle of love. Our love is in our giving. Our all! Amen.

This devotional is from And I Saw the Mountain—A Devotional Guide by Kenneth E. Sullivan.

Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Missouri, 1990