Grosey's Messages

Lorelle works at Myer.

104 years ago, Sidney Myer became a Christian. Myer was an upcoming Melbourne entrepreneur and businessman. Despite growing success, he had made some rather poor choices in life, one of which resulted in his first marriage ending.

One day, another Melbourne businessman named Lee Neil, had his company bought out by Sidney Myer. Neil then went to work for Myer. Neil was a Christian and over time he shared with Myer his most precious possession, God's good news of Jesus. 

Sidney Myer could not buy or afford this news of Divine forgiveness. As the Apostle Paul once explained, 

'it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God'

Once Myer realised this message, this gift of God transformed the way he did business. Generosity was part of the parcel of his success. Myer included his employees in the benefits of a growing company and he shared his profits among those who had little. He even celebrated Christmas by organising lunches for 100s of people. Today, Sidney Myer remains one of Australia's great success stories, but few are aware of the Divine gift that prompted his philanthropy.

The statement is true: "Gifts for the naughty and the nice. Share the Joy".

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."" (Matt 1:21)

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 2:15)

Here lays the cutting edge of Christianity, which makes the Gospel unlike every other story, philosophy and religion. God doesn't choose between the naughty and nice. He says, 'Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Romans 5)

The message of the Christ is one of overflowing love and mercy toward those who are undeserving and unable. Imagine a God who gives gifts unmerited! Imagine God whose only Son sacrificed himself to deliver us from every iniquity, even death?  Imagine if the real message of Christmas isn't 'be nice not naughty' but you are forgiven, come home to God. Of course, we don't have to imagine. Look at that night in Bethlehem. Check out the infant Jesus and his life, words and deeds. Above all, come to terms with why the only good man chose to die on a Roman cross.

Thank you Myer for your Christmas message this year. I for one, will 'share the joy'. Jesus really is good news, God's "Gift for the naughty and the nice."