How Can I Gift My Jehovah’s Witness Friends?

Sharing Joy: A Guide to Gift-Giving for Your Jehovah’s Witness Friends

Introduction: Discover the Joy in Giving!

There’s a special kind of happiness, a deep-down blessing, that comes from giving. The Bible itself tells us, “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving”.¹ It reflects the heart of our generous God, who showers us with good things.³ When we give gifts, we’re not just exchanging items; we’re sharing love, appreciation, and kindness.

Perhaps you have neighbors, or coworkers who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and you’ve wondered about the best way to express your friendship through gifts. You want to show you care you also want to be respectful of their beliefs. That’s a wonderful desire! This guide is here to help you navigate that with understanding and grace. We’ll explore how Jehovah’s Witnesses view gifts, the principles that guide them, and practical ways you can share the joy of giving while building bridges of friendship and mutual respect. God truly does love a cheerful giver, and expressing that cheerfulness thoughtfully can be a powerful way to connect.²

Can My Jehovah’s Witness Friend Receive a Gift? The Heartwarming Truth

Let’s start with the most important question: Can Jehovah’s Witnesses accept gifts? The simple, heartwarming answer is yes, absolutely! Jehovah’s Witnesses, like most people, appreciate gestures of kindness and can accept personal gifts.³ Their faith encourages generosity and showing love towards others, and receiving a thoughtful gift can be a joyful part of that.²

But as with many aspects of their faith, there are important considerations based on their understanding of Bible principles. The type of gift and the occasion or reason for giving it matter to them.⁶ They strive to ensure that gift-giving aligns with their conscience and biblical understanding. So, Although the door is wide open for expressing friendship through gifts, understanding a few key principles will help ensure your gesture is received with the same warmth it’s intended. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated, and we’ll explore these points together so you can give with confidence and joy.

What Guiding Principles Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Follow from the Bible?

Jehovah’s Witnesses place great emphasis on living according to the Bible’s teachings in all aspects of life, including gift-giving. Their approach isn’t based on arbitrary rules on specific scriptures they believe provide guidance. Understanding these principles helps explain their perspective:

• Cheerful, Voluntary Giving: A core principle is found in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This means they value gifts given freely from the heart, not because someone feels obligated or pressured.² Giving shouldn’t feel like a forced transaction.
• The Happiness of Giving: They take to heart Jesus’ words in Acts 20:35 that “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving”.¹ This encourages a spirit of generosity as a source of joy for both the giver and the receiver.
• Practicing Spontaneous Giving: Jesus encouraged his followers to “practice giving” (Luke 6:38), suggesting that generosity should be a regular part of life, not limited to specific dates or occasions.² Spontaneous gifts given “just because” are often highly valued.⁶
• Honoring God with Resources: Proverbs 3:9 advises: “Honor Jehovah with your valuable things.” Jehovah’s Witnesses understand “valuable things” to include not just material possessions also their time, energy, and talents, which they strive to use in ways that honor God and benefit others.⁴ Giving fits within this broader framework of using God-given resources wisely and generously.

These biblical principles form the foundation for how Jehovah’s Witnesses approach both giving and receiving gifts. It’s about the spirit behind the action – ensuring it reflects love, cheerfulness, and a desire to honor God.

Understanding the ‘Why’: Gifts Given with the Right Heart

Beyond the general principles of generosity, Jehovah’s Witnesses are particularly mindful of the motive behind a gift, both when giving and receiving. This careful consideration stems from biblical warnings about how gifts can sometimes be misused or carry improper implications. Their desire is to maintain integrity and avoid situations that could compromise their conscience or relationships.¹

Here are specific concerns they might have:

• Avoiding Bribery: The Bible strongly condemns bribery, stating that it “blinds clear-sighted men and can distort the words of righteous men” 1 and perverts justice.¹ Because of this, JWs are very cautious about giving or accepting gifts, especially involving government employees or anyone in a position of authority, if the gift could be seen as an attempt to gain an unlawful favor or corrupt influence.¹ The prophet Samuel is noted as an example of integrity for not accepting “hush money,” unlike his sons who accepted bribes and perverted judgment.¹
• Nuance in Practice: While outright bribery is always wrong, mature Christians recognize that local customs sometimes involve small tokens. In some situations, after receiving a legitimate service (like medical treatment or processing paperwork without undue delay), offering a small token of appreciation afterward might be deemed acceptable by an individual’s conscience, ensuring it cannot be misconstrued as payment for preferential treatment.⁹ But many feel uncomfortable even with this and prefer to avoid it altogether, especially if an official solicits a tip.⁹
• Resisting Obligation or Compulsion: Reflecting the principle of cheerful giving, gifts given out of a sense of obligation or pressure are discouraged.¹ Gift-giving shouldn’t feel forced or create an uncomfortable expectation of reciprocation.
• Guarding Against Ulterior Motives: A gift given with the hidden intention of putting the receiver under obligation, gaining undue influence, or warping their judgment is viewed negatively.¹ A person accepting such a gift might unconsciously become indebted or biased.¹

This focus on motive highlights a deep concern for maintaining ethical purity and ensuring that acts of giving remain genuine expressions of kindness, free from manipulation or corruption. It helps explain why a Witness might politely decline a gift if the context feels inappropriate or the motive seems questionable, such as offering payment for their volunteer ministry work.⁶

Why You Won’t See JWs Exchanging Gifts on Christmas or Birthdays

One of the most noticeable differences many Christians observe is that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or other common religious and national holidays, and therefore do not exchange gifts on these occasions.⁶ This decision is deeply rooted in their interpretation of the Bible and their understanding of early Christian practice, reflecting a core commitment to remain separate from traditions they view as unscriptural or having pagan origins.⁵ Here’s a breakdown of their reasoning:

Lack of Biblical Command or Precedent:

• Birthdays: They point out that the Bible nowhere commands Christians to celebrate birthdays.¹² the only two birthday celebrations recorded in Scripture involved non-worshippers of God (Pharaoh and Herod) and were associated with negative events, including executions.¹¹ They also cite historical sources suggesting early Christians viewed birthday celebrations as a pagan custom and avoided them.¹¹
• Christmas & Easter: JWs emphasize that Jesus commanded his followers to commemorate his death, not his birth or resurrection.¹⁴ They observe the Memorial of Christ’s death annually.¹⁶ They note that there’s no biblical proof Jesus was born on December 25th (evidence suggests a different time of year 5) and that Christmas celebrations were not instituted until centuries after the apostles.¹⁷ Similarly, they believe Easter traditions are not based on the Bible.¹⁶
• Perceived Pagan Origins: A major reason for abstaining is their belief that many customs associated with these holidays originated in non-Christian, pagan practices.⁵
• Birthdays: Linked to ancient beliefs about evil spirits attacking the celebrant, requiring protection through well-wishes and gifts, and connected to astrology and horoscopes.¹²
• Christmas: Believed to be rooted in Roman pagan festivals like Saturnalia (honoring Saturn with feasting and gift-giving) and Natalis Solis Invicti (birth of the unconquerable sun god), as well as Norse Yule traditions.⁵
• Easter: Customs like Easter eggs and bunnies are seen as stemming from ancient fertility rites.¹⁶
• Because they strive to give God “exclusive devotion” and avoid anything associated with “false worship” or spiritism 5, they feel conscientiously bound to avoid celebrations with these origins.¹â°
• Focus on Year-Round Generosity: It’s important to understand that their choice not to celebrate these specific holidays does not mean they reject joy or generosity. Instead, they emphasize showing love, giving gifts, and enjoying gatherings with family and friends throughout the year, spontaneously and without the pressure associated with holidays.⁵ Children of Witness parents still receive gifts and enjoy fun times, just not tied to birthdays or Christmas.¹⁴

This stance on holidays is a key aspect of how Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain their distinct religious identity and practice separation from worldly customs they deem contrary to Bible principles. While they respect others’ right to celebrate 16, they choose a different path based on their understanding of God’s will.

Celebrating Life’s Moments: When Do JWs Give Gifts?

While Jehovah’s Witnesses abstain from holidays they view as unscriptural, their lives are still filled with occasions for joy, celebration, and, yes, gift-giving! They simply channel their generosity towards events and milestones that align with their beliefs and values. Understanding these occasions can open up wonderful opportunities to share in their happiness and express your friendship:

• Weddings: This is perhaps the most common and widely accepted occasion for gift-giving among Jehovah’s Witnesses.⁶ They view marriage as a sacred arrangement instituted by God.²¹ Friends and family often give gifts to help the new couple start their life together.⁷ Wedding showers are also common.⁶
• Anniversaries: Celebrating the milestone of a wedding anniversary is another appropriate time for gifts.⁶
• Baby Showers: Welcoming a new baby into the family is a joyous event often marked by a gathering where gifts are given to the expectant parents.⁶
• Graduations: Acknowledging the hard work and achievement of completing a course of study is another suitable occasion.⁶
• Hospitality and Thank You Gifts: Expressing gratitude for someone’s kindness, help, or hospitality through a small gift is perfectly acceptable and appreciated.⁶
• Spontaneous Friendship Gifts: This is highly encouraged! Giving a gift “just because” you care about someone, unrelated to any specific event, aligns perfectly with the principle of spontaneous, cheerful giving.² This could be a small token, a meal, or something reflecting a shared interest.
• Farewell Gifts: When someone is moving away, friends might give a gift as a token of remembrance and well wishes.⁶
• Expressions of Care: While not a formal “occasion,” giving a gift to someone recovering from illness or facing hardship is a natural expression of Christian love and support that would generally be welcomed.

Focusing on these life events and relationship-based gestures allows Jehovah’s Witnesses to participate fully in the joy of giving and receiving, concentrating on personal milestones and expressions of love rather than calendar-dictated holidays.⁵

Choosing a Gift That Blesses: Ideas for Your JW Friend

Now for the practical part – what kind of gift would be appropriate for your Jehovah’s Witness friend? The good news is that most thoughtful gifts suitable for anyone else are perfectly fine, as long as they don’t conflict with their moral or religious principles.⁶ Their primary concern is avoiding items connected to practices they believe the Bible condemns.

Here’s a helpful guide:

Generally Welcome Gifts:

• Practical Items: Especially for newlyweds or those setting up a home, practical household goods are often appreciated.²³
• Food and Flowers: Gift baskets with food (checking for dietary restrictions like avoiding blood products 6), baked goods, fruit, flowers, or plants are usually safe and welcome choices.
• Experiences: Gift cards for a restaurant 6, tickets to an appropriate concert or museum, or an offer to share an enjoyable activity together.
• Modest Personal Items: Scarves, gloves, modest clothing items 6, journals 6, nice stationery, or photo albums.
• Hobbies and Interests: If you know their hobbies (gardening, reading, cooking, etc.), a related gift can be very thoughtful.
• Books: Books on neutral topics or perhaps carefully selected Bible study aids (though it might be wise to check their preference first).
• Wine/Alcohol: A bottle of wine or other alcoholic beverage is generally acceptable if given in moderation and presented respectfully, as moderate consumption is not forbidden.⁶
• Gift Cards: When in doubt, a gift card to a general store or restaurant allows them to choose something they need or enjoy.⁶

Gifts to Avoid:

• Holiday-Themed Items: Anything specifically related to Christmas, Easter, birthdays, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or other holidays they do not celebrate.⁶
• Religious Symbols from Other Faiths: Items featuring crosses, crucifixes, images of angel figures (often viewed with caution regarding origins), or symbols of other religions.⁶
• Occult or Spiritistic Items: Anything related to magic, astrology, fortune-telling, ghosts, wizards (like some fantasy figures), or spiritism.⁶
• Violent or Immoral Content: Items depicting excessive violence (like certain toys or games), pornography, or promoting drug use or an immoral lifestyle.⁶
• Nationalistic or Political Items: Gifts featuring national flags, political slogans, or promoting nationalism.⁶
• Food Containing Blood: Certain food items like blood sausage should be avoided.⁶
• Excessively Lavish or Worldly Items: Gifts that seem overly extravagant or promote a materialistic or immodest lifestyle might be viewed cautiously.⁶

Quick Guide: Gift Ideas for Jehovah’s Witness Friends

A Helpful Tip: Remember that individual consciences can vary slightly.⁶ Some JWs might be more sensitive about certain items than others. If you’re ever unsure, choosing something neutral like food, flowers, or a general gift card is always a safe bet. The most important thing is the loving spirit behind your gift!

A Look Back: What Did the Early Church Leaders Teach About Giving?

It’s interesting to look back at what early Christian writers, sometimes called Church Fathers, said about giving and celebrations, as this history sheds light on the background of different Christian perspectives today, including those of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

• Remarkable Generosity: One thing that stood out about the early Christians was their incredible generosity. They were known for sharing what they had, taking care of the poor, widows, orphans, the sick, and even prisoners within their community.⁴ Writers like Justin Martyr (mid-2nd century) and Tertullian (late 2nd/early 3rd century) described how Christians voluntarily contributed to a common fund to meet these needs and held shared meals.⁴ This emphasis on caring for one another within the “body of Christ” resonates strongly with the biblical calls to generosity that Jehovah’s Witnesses also follow.⁴ Some early writers even questioned the idea of private property, suggesting God intended resources to be shared, not hoarded.⁴
• Concerns About Pagan Festivals: Early church writers, including Tertullian, expressed strong concerns about Christians participating in the pagan festivals common in the Roman Empire.²⁶ Festivals like Saturnalia (celebrated in December with feasting, revelry, and sometimes gift-giving 26) and others were seen as honoring false gods. Tertullian specifically warned against adopting pagan customs, including gift-giving associated with these festivals, arguing that Christians should remain distinct.²⁶
• Views on Birthdays: Echoing the points made by Jehovah’s Witnesses, some prominent early Christian figures like Origen (3rd century) and historical accounts note that early Christians generally did not celebrate birthdays, viewing it as a pagan custom associated with honoring deities or linked to sinful figures in the Bible.¹¹
• The Christmas Date Debate: The historical reasons for celebrating Christmas on December 25th are complex. One common view, noted even in medieval sources, is that the Church chose this date to counteract or “baptize” popular pagan festivals like Natalis Solis Invicti (birth of the sun god) and Saturnalia, which occurred around the winter solstice.²⁶ The idea was to redirect people’s focus from pagan deities to Christ. But other scholars argue that the December 25th date arose independently from early Christian traditions calculating Jesus’ conception (Annunciation) on March 25th, placing his birth nine months later.²â¹ Regardless of the exact origin, the historical proximity to pagan festivals involving feasting and gift-giving 28 is part of the reason Jehovah’s Witnesses question the celebration’s roots.
• Spiritual Gifts: Early writers like Tertullian and Augustine also wrote about “spiritual gifts” (charismata) given by the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, healing, and teaching, meant to build up the church community.³³ This connects to the broader idea that all gifts, whether material or spiritual, come from God and should be used for the common good.⁴

Looking at these early Christian writings helps us understand the historical context. While mainstream Christianity eventually incorporated or adapted certain traditions, Jehovah’s Witnesses emphasize the warnings against pagan practices and the lack of direct biblical command for holidays like Christmas and birthdays, aligning themselves with what they see as the stricter, earlier Christian stance.¹¹ This perspective is reinforced by a close examination of biblical texts and their interpretations, including a King James Bible overview that highlights the absence of any scriptural support for such celebrations. Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain that true worship should be based solely on biblical precedent, rejecting customs that they believe have pagan origins. Their focus on adhering to the teachings of early Christianity is a key aspect of their religious identity and practice. Their interpretation of biblical texts is further supported by the New World Translation history, which was crafted specifically for their doctrinal beliefs. This translation aims to present scripture in a way that aligns with their understanding of God’s purpose and plan. As a result, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel justified in their rejection of mainstream customs, seeking to remain true to what they believe is the original intent of early Christian teachings.

Giving to God vs. Giving to Friends: Is There a Difference?

Jehovah’s Witnesses make a clear distinction between personal gifts exchanged between individuals and contributions made to support their religious activities. Understanding this difference can prevent misunderstandings:

• Personal Gifts: These are gifts given between family members, or acquaintances out of affection, appreciation, or for appropriate occasions like weddings or baby showers.⁶ As discussed, these are generally welcomed if the gift itself and the motive behind it align with biblical principles.⁶
• Donations/Contributions: Jehovah’s Witnesses finance their worldwide religious work—including building and maintaining Kingdom Halls, printing Bibles and literature, supporting missionaries and traveling ministers, and providing disaster relief—entirely through voluntary donations.⁸ These contributions are viewed as sacred, a way of honoring God with one’s resources.⁸ They are given anonymously (often via contribution boxes at Kingdom Halls or online) and are used strictly for the organization’s activities, not to enrich individuals.⁶
• Gifts for Ministry Work: Because their preaching and teaching work is considered a voluntary service rendered as part of their worship, Jehovah’s Witnesses will politely refuse personal gifts or payments offered specifically for their ministry activities.⁶ They follow Jesus’ instruction to his disciples: “You received free, give free” (Matthew 10:8).¹⁷ If someone insists on giving something in appreciation for spiritual help received, the Witness will likely suggest they make an anonymous donation to the worldwide work instead.⁶

This distinction maintains a clear boundary between personal relationships and the financial support of their organized religious activities, ensuring that their ministry remains a voluntary act of faith, not a service performed for personal gain.⁶

Conclusion: Building Bridges with Love and Understanding

Navigating the world of gift-giving with friends who hold different beliefs can seem tricky it doesn’t have to be! As we’ve seen, Jehovah’s Witnesses absolutely appreciate thoughtful gifts given from the heart on appropriate occasions.⁶ Their approach is guided by a sincere desire to live according to Bible principles as they understand them – valuing cheerful, voluntary giving, guarding against improper motives, and choosing to celebrate life’s milestones rather than holidays they believe have unscriptural origins.²

The key is always love and respect.⁹ When we approach gift-giving with a genuine desire to express friendship and kindness, focusing on the person rather than just the present, we build bridges of understanding. Respecting their choices regarding holidays, while embracing the many other opportunities to share joy through gifts—like weddings, anniversaries, or simply a spontaneous “thinking of you” gesture—shows that we value them and our relationship.⁵

Let’s celebrate the shared Christian value of generosity.² By understanding the “why” behind their practices and choosing gifts thoughtfully, we can bless our Jehovah’s Witness friends and neighbors, strengthening bonds of community and reflecting the boundless, cheerful generosity of God Himself.¹ May our giving always be a source of happiness and connection!