Sam was a very wealthy man. He held a patent for his creation of a glue that could fix cracks in metal engines. All the car manufacturers wanted his product. He made thousands of dollars even in his sleep.
Sam was a single parent who doted on his only child Will after the passing of his mother. Sam gave Will anything he wanted. The kids in Will’s high school knew about his wealth. All the girls wanted to date Will because of his dad’s fortune. Will was average looking with a few extra pounds and a one pack unlike the handsome school jocks who sported eight packs. At first Will enjoyed being popular with the girls. He soon realized they didn’t want him but the luxury of flying on his dad’s private plane to vacations in the Bahamas.
When Will was accepted at Yale, he offered his father a plan. “I want everyone to think I got accepted on a scholarship. I’m ditching my Prada and Gucci designer clothes. I will wear scruffy clothes so they think I am poor. I want friends who will love me for me.
The plan worked. Will was popular because of the goodness others saw in him. By his third year Will fell madly in love with a girl named Susan who loved him for him.
Will proposed marriage to Susan. He was overjoyed she said “yes”. She brought Will to meet her parents at Thanksgiving. Susan’s parents also had money which opened doors to membership in high society. She showed mom and dad her engagement ring which consisted of one small diamond. They were underwhelmed, calling the ring “quaint”. The parents were so disappointed their daughter fell in love with a “commoner”.
Susan convinced her parents to invite Will’s father, Sam, for Christmas. Sam played his part very well. He not only looked poor but homeless. Susan’s dad, Farlow, told Sam, “We hope you and Will can fit in.” They made both Will and Sam feel they were not worthy to join their family.
At Christmas eve presents were exchanged. Farlow and his wife, Martha, handed Will a box with a car key inside. They led him to their garage where sat a beautiful red Porsche. “We don’t want our daughter riding in your old clunker.”
Susan’s parents expected Will to gush with excitement over owning a very expensive car. Instead, he deadpanned, “It’s nice. I have owned a few of these Posche’s over the years.”
Farlow and Martha “guffawed” with boisterous laughter like rich people do when they hear a “funny”. “How could you ever have owned several Porche’s with you and your father dressed like that?”
Sam replied, “Well, Farlow, I want my son loved for who he is and not the 200-million-dollar trust fund he will receive on his wedding day.” And when I die, Will shall receive another 370 million dollars from my estate.”
Susan, Farlow and Martha’s jaw fell to the floor so hard one could hear a “thud”. Sam, then gave Will and Susan an envelope containing a deed to a 5-million-dollar home in New York where they will live after Will graduates.
Will asked Susan if she is angry that he hid his wealth from her. She replied, “not at all!” He asked her if he should give back the house to his father. She replied, “Don’t you dare.”
Sam gave one last piece of advice to his son, “Remember, Will, you yourself are good enough.”
Will and Susan gave birth to a daughter they named “Rain”. Proud grandpa Sam bought a 5-million-dollar house next to Will and Susan so he could babysit.
Jesus came to earth to proclaim to all, “You yourself are good enough”. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, what you look like, what you have achieved or what social circles you hang out in. Everyone has worth. Everyone is important in God’s eyes. Genesis 1:31 says, “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”
It is false to believe that to be good enough you must compare yourselves to others who seem to have it all, good looking, success, and lots of money. Then you are forced to prove you have worth, that you are enough.
God doesn’t buy into that. You have worth not by what you do, not by what you own, but by who you are…a child of God. Jesus said, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31) We are all equal in importance to God because we are created in His image. God does not make junk.
God first announced the Good News of the birth of Jesus not to the wealthy, not to the powerful, but to the shepherds. Shepherds were considered scum by their society. They were dirty and uneducated. Many were former prisoners forced to work with smelly sheep. God showed he valued the shepherds as equally worthy as dignitaries, nobles, priests and kings.
The bible says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” (Eph 2:10) The best Christmas gift you can give is to show another the goodness that lies within them. Mother Theresa said, “It is Christmas time every time you let God love others through you.” Merry Christmas