Silver And Gold

Silver and Gold

The weather in my town isn’t reminding me of Christmas; yesterday afternoon was a balmy eighty-three degrees. But superstore parking lots are full of fresh-cut trees, lights are up on neighborhood streets and shopping centers, and the red kettles of the Salvation Army can be seen outside grocery stores across the city.

Each red bucket is attended by a bell ringer wishing passersby a Merry Christmas, whether they leave a donation or not. It’s hard for me to walk past without dropping at least my wallet’s latest loose coins into the kettle. But others leave more than spare change.

Already twice this season, the local army bell ringers have received gold coins wrapped in dollar bills, one with the message “A Child Is Born—Jesus. Merry Christmas!” and another reading, “Glory to God in the Highest!” It happens every year. And every year it makes the news. Gold coins worth thousands of dollars are dropped anonymously like nickels or pennies from persons who have more than gold to give: they are reflecting the love of the Christmas Child, Jesus. They don’t ask for receipts for tax purposes or stop to have their picture taken as they drop in their donation. They give in secret, in gratitude for the greatest gift ever.

I don’t have much silver and no gold to speak of. But the phantom red-kettle givers remind me that what I have is worth far more. I have Jesus. And I can give him away in the name of love. I’ve been given the gospel. I’ve received the Christ child. I have all that I need and far, far more than I deserve. I am rich, and I live among the poor in spirit. I possess what the world needs most, and I know—because I need it too. By giving what is mine by grace, I celebrate God’s great gift to me.

A child was born, and he is worth more to me than silver or gold. Glory to God in the highest!

Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might.”

Jeremiah 9:23, NASB