Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Having been delivered from the evil plot of Haman who sought to slay them, the Jews celebrated with joy and feasting. It would become a yearly event and is called the feast of Purim. It was a time of feasting, joy, giving of gifts, and remembering the poor, in commemorating a great deliverance from a wicked plot by Haman.

It is important to keep in mind that Purim is not a Holy day or a high Sabbath prescribed by God. It was a feast day established by Mordecai and Esther (Est 9:20-22, 29-32). It is more of a national than a religious character. It is a feast and celebration which observance includes: resting, feasting, sending gifts to the poor and portions to one another.  

Observe that they also did something that was commendable during the feast: they sent gifts to one another and to the poor. There are two kinds of gifts we normally do:

1.      Gifts of Friendship

2.      Gifts of Charity (Benevolence)

Joy is not complete without sharing with others, even with the less fortunate. Joy is not complete if those less fortunate than us cannot celebrate. It is good to see that while they celebrated their deliverance with feasting, they did not forget their friends and the poor.

Christianity is about loving and giving. God loved the world and He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). The manifestation of love is in its giving. How did the first century Christians show their joy and love for one another? They gave: “And all that believed were together, and had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45).

There is joy in giving and sharing. God wants His children to give and to share their blessings with the less fortunate. Benevolence is giving to those who cannot give us back in return. And Christ wants us to perform such giving: “But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:13-14).

Our Lord said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). There is joy in giving. Giving is an act of love. There is an unexplainable feeling of happiness in giving which is hard to explain in words; you have to do it to experience it.

Why do you invite your friends and loved ones to your wedding, birthday party, graduation, or a new birth? It is because you want them to share your joy. There is not much fun if a wedding party has only the two of you. In the midst of our celebrations, do not forget to share your joy and happiness.

Solomon wrote: “There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not” (Pro 21:26, ASV).

The covetous person only wants to receive but the righteous gives. Faith is nothing or useless if we see others that are in need of help and we have the ability to do so but refuse to do it (James 2:14-17). The early Christians were together and they shared their possessions and those who were rich were giving more (Acts 4:36-37).

The Jews still celebrate Purim with feasting, renewing friendship, and remembering the poor. When you send gifts, or invite your friends to share your joy, you are also renewing your friendship. And when you help the poor saints locally and in overseas, you are manifesting the Christian love: “The righteous giveth and withholdeth not” (Pro 21:26, ASV).

Remember this song: “When you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands?” Well, when you are happy, you should share it with others.  

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.