Gift giving like St. Nicholas or nah? – See This | AWAYION BEAUTY

Hi, Friends!

Gift giving among believers can be fun. Giving during the Christmas holiday season can either be a pagan ritual or not — depending on the believers’ motives.

For true believers, giving to others during this season is to mimic the giving nature of our Creator. And we cannot top His ultimate gift of our Saviour, Christ Jesus (Yeshua Messiah).

So, what is your motive for gift giving? Is it to brag, take part in pagan rituals, gain influence, or is it an pure act of love?

Uneasy, you are now questioning your motives. Eh?

How can you be sure your motives are pure?

In this post, discover if you are gift giving in love or not. Because every girl in Christ should give with a pure heart.

Super Awesome Side Note: This post was scheduled for Dec 16, yet WP didn’t release it till Dec 17… weird, eh?!

Super Awesome Side Note: Before we start, understand we will not claim contested truths. And we will refrain from falling into the trap of “teaching man-made ideas as commands from the Creator.”

Out of respect for believers, we will simply acknowledge the multiplicity of views on this subject (the keyword is “acknowledge” and not agree). That said, this is a non-exhaustive list. So use this list to do further research.

Super Psst… the big secret I’ve been hinting around on social media for a few months now – is revealed… (it’s why I have been MIA for a bit…). Read on after this post for the juicy details.

*Disclaimer: These tips could be helpful. Especially if you are a believer in Christ. Always do further research. The sources for this or any post do not equal a full endorsement of any ministry or evangelist’s personal views by Awayion.com.***

TL:DR A quick post glance:

1. Gift giving to brag
2. Gift giving as a pagan ritual
   
3. Giving to gain influence
   
4. Gift giving out of pure love

Sound fancy? Okay, Ladies. Let’s start!

1. Gift giving to brag

For starters, if you are giving gifts like St. Nicholas, then others know you for giving out of your generosity (aka giving in love). Notice the keyword “know.” In antiquity, the people of Myra, Lykia (present-day Demre, Turkey) knew St. Nicholas for his generosity.

That said, St. Nicholas gained his fruit of the Spirit of generosity (and forgiveness) from being healed from the effects of trauma and persecution. His trauma came via the Romans, who put him through tribulation. So his fame came not by bragging about gift giving.

Now, if you always post on social media about expensive gifts you must wrap — or poorly wrap. As a motive for “likes” or whatever. Then you may give gifts to brag — unlike St. Nicholas. Not cool. -_-

Research ❤ 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Matthew 6:3-4, Matthew 7:16-20, Matthew 6:1

RELATED: Do others say you talk too much? Fix that – See this

2. Giving gifts as a pagan ritual

Modern professing believers and pagan rituals do not match. You already know your gift giving motive — if you are a believer and taking part in pagan gift giving rituals.

I could wax poetic about the alleged  origins of pagan gift giving rituals that include Krampus — a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore who, during the Christmas season, scares children who have misbehaved. But I do not care to write about pagan gift giving rituals — to professing believers — especially in the information age.

Now are you giving gifts as a pagan ritual? St. Nicholas did not give in this manner.

By the way, did you know this about the Christmas tree (psst… it is historically not pagan), see this.

Research ❤ Deuteronomy 12:4, Deuteronomy 20:18

RELATED: So someone told you Christmas was pagan, right? – See this

3. Giving to gain influence

Giving to get something only for yourself does not show a pure motive (or heart). Even worse, when your motive is to give so you increase your influence — your motives are impure (unless you are giving as in a win-win situation).

At that, St. Nicholas gave from a position of purity, hence our Heavenly Father increased his influence. That being said, our Heavenly Father is the only one you want to increase your influence (psst… you don’t want the enemy to increase you) — and your influence will increase only to do His Will on earth. Have you heard, “… whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:26)? Now, does that verse say to buy gifts to gain influence or be a servant? Hmm? Questions. Questions.

By the way, Messiah Yeshua’s influence grew because He lived as a servant. That said, are you giving to gain influence?

Research ❤ Psalm 115:14, Proverbs 19:6, Exodus 4, Matthew 20:26

RELATED: Don’t feel worthy? Fix that – See this

4. Gift giving out of pure love

You could be gift giving like St. Nicholas, if you are giving out of pure love.

Historians say Nicholas came from a family of affluence. Because of his wealth, he was very generous with his inheritance, giving it to the poor.

According to research, a famous St. Nicholas story tells of a man who needed a large dowry to draw trustworthy husbands for his daughters. Out of the blue, 3 bags of gold appeared to pay for each daughter’s dowry. St. Nicholas was the daughter’s anonymous gift giver. Seems like St Nicholas lived by Matthew 6. Fancy, huh?

That said, if you are giving out of pure love (not to brag, gain influence, etc) then you are giving out of pure motives. Now think about it — are you giving gifts out of pure love?

Research ❤ Matthew 6, John 15:13

RELATED: Aubrey’s gift giving ideas and more – See this

Major Takeaways

You now know if you are gift giving in love or not.

This post is a part of Inner Beauty, a new addition to Awayion. So make sure you come back for more powerful inner beauty tips.

Know of any tips about gift giving?

Quick, save this pin (psst… it’s FREE) from Awayion’s Inner Beauty Tips & Quotes Board on Pinterest: @Awayion

Secret Juicy Details

Ahh… so you are ready for the secret… hmm… you are. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer… I have authored my first juicy success book for you. Want success? – Click here.

If you find a typo, just know that it happens to all of us!