Remember: For our sake God became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich. The story of Christ leaving the side of God and entering the human scene as one of us is called by theologians "the humiliation," and rightly so! For, in contrast to the American dream of rags to riches, and the log cabin to the White House, this is distinct opposite. Christ emptied Himself of power and glory and was obedient even to the cross so that in Christ we might have a share in the family of God.
It is exactly that model of selfless sacrifice that sets the pace for our consideration when we plan our response of love to God through our gifts to be used in God's service.
The Christmas Gospel is the good news of a God who comes among us, right where we live, to share the misery of our life and replace it with a new vision of life as God wants us to have it.