Christmas Gifts: The Biblical Meaning
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- Dec 1
- 4 min read
Part 3 of 4 in the “True Meaning of Christmas” Series
When I sat down to map out the lessons for my Christmas Curriculum for Kids, I began thinking: what if the gifts under the tree, the presents we exchange, the small ribbon-wrapped boxes under the lights — what if these are more than holiday tradition? What if they’re invitations to remember that Christmas is where heaven reached earth? What's the true meaning of Christmas gifts, according to the Bible?
As I drafted Lesson 3 on Gifts, I felt a strange conviction. I realised this gift isn’t just for children to understand — I needed it too. I needed to remember afresh that Jesus’ arrival was the greatest gift ever given, wrapped in love and wrapped in grace.
So this post — part of the Go Deeper series — invites you, as an adult, to rediscover the meaning of Christmas gifts beyond the surface. To see how each ribbon and box whispers of redemption, grace, and God’s generous heart.
🎁 Meaning of Christmas Gifts
Have you noticed how giving gifts somehow makes the abstract feel tangible? A trinket becomes a token of love, a simple mug becomes a memory, a handmade card becomes an echo of someone’s heart.
At Christmas, we wrap and unwrap, anticipate and discover — and in that ritual, we reflect the very act God used when He gave us His Son.
God’s way of giving is not transactional, not earned. It is grace. Unmerited. Unlocked by love. When we give gifts at Christmas, we’re echoing that ancient divine exchange — heaven’s gift to earth.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” — John 3:16
That word “gave”... That small word unpacks eternity. It reminds us that the greatest gift was not wrapped in paper or bows. It was wrapped in flesh, humility, and divine love.
📜 The Scriptures of Giving
In Lesson 3, the curriculum includes several passages to help facilitators understand the gospel heart behind gifts. Let’s reflect on some of them now:
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” → The gift so vast it reshapes the world.
2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” → We receive gifts that transcend description — gifts of life, salvation, grace.
James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” → Every gift — big or small — echoes God’s character.
Luke 2:10–11 – The angel proclaimed good news to shepherds of “great joy … for unto you is born this day … a Saviour, Christ the Lord.” → Jesus Himself is the good news-gift announced to the world.
Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” → Salvation is a gift. Not earned, not deserved, simply given.
As we unwrap these verses, we begin to see that Christmas gifts and gospel gifts arise from the same generous heart — God’s.
🎨 What the Gifts in the Curriculum Mean
As I painted those scenes and wrote the accompanying text, I felt God remind me of the deeper truth behind every small kindness we offer — it’s a reflection of the greatest kindness ever shown.
In the curriculum, the “gift” isn’t defined by price or polish, but by intention. A simple drawing, a hand-written note, a warm meal, a moment of kindness — each can carry gospel weight.
I found myself asking: when was the last time I gave a gift that spoke grace, hope, or presence rather than simply filling a need or meeting an expectation?
🙏 Why This Matters
For children, gifts at Christmas are wonder and delight — paper tearing, surprise, dinner, laughter. They don’t yet understand theology. But for adults — we know the ache, the longing, the weight.
That’s exactly why this gift-symbol matters so much. Because gifts don’t erase darkness — but they point back to the One who did.
At times we might feel unworthy. We might feel like we have little to give. But God’s economy is upside-down. He buys back the world with a baby’s cry, a carpenter’s hands, a sacrificial life.
So Christmas gifts become more than tradition — they become reminders. Reminders that we are loved, we belong, and we are invited into a story far bigger than ourselves.
💡 Sharing the Gift in Your Circle
If this reflection stirred something in you, maybe you’d like to bring this deeper meaning to the people around you this season:
🎁 For parents: Use the Christmas Curriculum with your children — not just to explain the meaning behind gifts, but to help them experience the heart of giving: grace, kindness, and God’s generous love. [Explore the Christmas Curriculum →]
🍞 For teachers / Sunday-school leaders: Implement one of the “gift-stories” in a class or small group — give each child a simple act of kindness to perform for someone else this week. Watch gospel truths come alive through action. [Download or share the guide →]
❤️ For aunts, uncles, or god-parents: You don’t need to wait for Christmas morning. Gift love now — a handwritten note, a thoughtful call, a small kindness to someone who least expects it. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts aren’t sold in stores.
🙏 For you: Take a moment to reflect: what gift did God give you this year that you sometimes forget? Also consider: what small gift could you give to reflect His love and light to someone else?
💌 A Prayer
Father of All Gifts,
Thank You that You loved the world with a giving heart — a heart that sent Your Son wrapped not in gold or silk, but in humility and love.
Teach me to give with that same generosity.
Not out of obligation, but out of love.
Not to impress, but to bless.
Use my small hands, my quiet words, my everyday resources — and let them point others to You.
May this Christmas be more than a season of exchange.
May it be a season of grace, echoing heaven’s greatest Gift.
Amen.
May you continue to abide in the Vine, letting His love flow through you — so that every gift you give becomes a glimpse of His greater gift to us all. 🌿
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