Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48 NLT

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Gift giving is not always easy, especially at Christmas time in an age of austerity. But how do we decide? Sort of like Santa's list we must assess who's been naughty and who's been nice. There are the people we love and really want to buy gifts for, and the people we want to get gifts for but they don't expect it. Then there are the people we must give gifts to but aren't too keen on it, and lastly the people we should give gifts to but we really don't want to.

Others know it. They know if you have in your heart the gift of favour. They can sense if you are springing up with grace towards them. But maybe you feel like the well is dry. Your spring of generosity is empty. You've got nothing to give.

Let me commend to you God's gift giving motto.

" For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. "

And this doesn't start with a large back account, this starts with an overhaul of your bank and banking attitude.

Firstly, bank with God. If you have Jesus as your guarantee of deposit, you'll never be overdrawn. Your well of living water will never run dry. If you see the grace of God towards you and you understand he freely gives all good things to you, his enemy, then you too will be able to open your heart full of favour towards all men.

Secondly, give to the undeserving.  Lavish your gifts on the naughty and the nice alike. 

Cause your goodness to bless the foul, the fiend, the forward, the foolish, the friend and the foe.

Don't simply get for the good. Don't lavish your loved ones and ignore the lurid, lascivious, lustful, lonely, late, landed, lazy, leper, lout, long-winded, loveless, or low-life.

God doesn't withhold his grace from you or them.

Give the gift of your favour to the least deserving and you will have understood what this holiday is all about.