Alright everyone! Christmas is just around the corner. How are you going to handle it?!?! You may already be thinking about tightening up a bit because of the tough economic times. That is good and necessary. But what about tightening up for other reasons?
Do you know someone in need? How are you giving yourself to someone who needs your love and time? How are you being Jesus to them?
These are hard questions that need answers! It is hard to not want a bunch of stuff this “holiday” season, and I have to fight to remember the meaning of Christmas amongst all the consumerism and my sinful flesh. That is why I love things like Advent Conspiracy and Rethink Christmas.
Why are we more upset when a store takes Christ out of Christmas and replaces it with “Happy Holidays” when we should be upset with ourselves for taking Christ out of our shopping at those stores? It’s not the store or the stuff in the store that is necessarily wrong, but it’s our greedy and selfish hearts that should be upsetting us. And if we know this is true in our life, why not do something?
If you have similar feelings and struggles, let me know how this movement sits with you. Let’s do something with this! Let’s make a difference this Christmas. If you are going to buy anything this Christmas, BUY INTO THIS CONCEPT:
1. Worship Fully. Jesus is the reason.
2. Spend Less. We don’t NEED all this stuff.
3. Give More. Be creative in your giving! Give time!
4. Love All. What about those missionaries you pray for? Or the lost neighbor or coworker? Or the guy at church who just lost his job and has a wife and four kids?
Where do we go from here?
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” – Matthew 25:40
Yes!
matt ,
I think it would be great to bless a family in real need this Christmas.
I’m sure I can find someone to bless who wouldn’t have much of a Christmas & we as a family could all join in.
MATT,
i THINK IT WILL BE GREAT TO BLESS A FAMILY IN REAL NEED THIS CHRISTMAS. i’M PLANNING ON A FAMILY OF 3 BOYS ALL TEEN AGERS
IT WAS SUGESSTED I GET THEM A GIFT CARD FROM TILYS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Mary
Tilly’s is a safe bet with most teens. I assume the suggestion came from someone who knows them. How exciting! I am thrilled to see that you are blessing someone like that. I am sure that the boys will see Christ’s love through your generosity.
Matt
I definitely agree in concept. The world could be greatly benefited if we could channel that extra spending into some major relief efforts etc. It’s tough though, because sometimes we Christians tend to assume that frugality is next to Godliness and Cleanliness, when really Jesus was all about giving 100% of everything he had… time, money, etc. He was really a reckless giver and a reckless servant. It’s hard to see exactly how that translates over into 2008, but it definitely doesn’t look like either extreme consumerism or pious penny-pinching.
I think the point of this Rethink Christmas movement is right on track, and the more accessibility there is to greater uses of our time and money, the more we can actually use those resources for better things rather than taking the easy way out… giving origami and paper-mache gifts and pocketing the difference.
On a similar note… I’m a big fan of international aid causes, but the whole “support a child for the cost of a frappuchino” mindset is only one step in a race we have barely even started. What if a group of 500 churches in California set out to end hunger in a particular 3rd world country. Now THAT would really start to bite into our budget’s comfort zone, but it’s amazing what we could accomplish. But how do we get from point A to point B? I’m not sure… and a frappuchino’s pace is better than none at all.
I know… lots of random thoughts.
Jon
Thanks for thinking out loud! Thanks for the discussion. This is really what I was hoping for when I posted this.
First of all, I believe giving in a way that honors Christ must be intentional. Otherwise, it is just throwing around your money, time, effort, and talent with no regard for the real issue – mainly that people are hurting and need Jesus. Unfortunately, I have spent too many Christmases trying to put the focus on Christ and failing miserably. That is why I love AC. Four simple points but four powerful challenges: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.
I know that I am never going to struggle with wanting to give it all away, despite what Jamie may think! I am too selfish. I love my family and myself too much for that. More importantly, God has not called me to give it all away. Jesus gave it all away and for that I am forever grateful! But how should it all translate for me in 2008? I have to keep the gospel central in my life. Because He loved me, I must love others. Because He gave it all, I must give all that He wants me to give. Because He is worthy of my praise, I shouldn’t allow anything to shade His glory.
But how?
Extremes don’t seem to be the issue for me. I can be pretty content with the status quo in the Christian life. I can ignore the needs of others and only bless those closest to me. I can spend money because that is my “love language” with no regard for what would really bless the receiver. I can get so consumed with finding the right gift that I get discouraged if I can’t find it. I can go into debt for a few more gifts and smiles. But where is God’s glory in that? Is that what giving really is? What about love?
Homemade gifts are kind of funny gifts, but what about spending the afternoon with someone as a gift? That is such a great idea for those people you think have everything already. But do you pocket the money saved from that afternoon? Of course not! Do some research and find out who needs that money.
You are familiar with Invisible Children already. There are so many people out there that could use my money, abroad and in your backyard. We are inviting our neighbors over for dinner next week with some of the money that we are not spending on ourselves.
How do we get from point A to B? I think we should tell everyone we know what we are thinking about and challenge them to think about it too. If churches and families buy into this, there will be so much accomplished! And all for the glory of God.
This is very exciting! I am still formulating my thoughts on this too. Keep up the thinking and pursuing, Jon.
Matt
I understand what you’re saying Matt. We have to start somewhere, and there are opportunities right next door to all of us! Good idea with the neighbors.
One point I would make is that I’m not sure the spending of money vs the spending of time, etc, is that clear of a distinction. I don’t think one shows more love than the other. I think the point is that we are ready to give either or both to meet whatever needs we see around us. I think in America, we spend more money than time because swiping a card CAN be the easy way out of giving ourselves fully to love someone… we get a good feeling from buying people slippers or DVD’s. But do we get the same feeling from helping someone pay their mortgage? So I think you are right by saying it is about being intentional. And where that leads might be different in each individual case.
On another note, I think for me this topic is part of a large-scale concern I’ve had with the church and with myself. Namely, that we decide what it is we want to do or how we want to live our life, and then we put just the right spin on it so that we can rationalize backward to the point where we say we are in God’s will.
Too often I only look for improvements or spiritual garnishings, when something deeper or radical may be what God is calling me to. If God told Abraham to sacrifice his son and the rich young ruler to sell everything he had, is it just a coincidence that God has only called me to fill a shoebox with presents from the 99 cent store this Christmas? Pretty darn convenient for me, it seems.
by the way, our church is doing something kind of cool this year… buying presents for kids whose parents are in prison. pretty good idea.
Matt,
Well i started today by buying gift cards at Tarket for this family
Tomorrow I’ll see about the gift cards from Tilly’s. I think I can buy them on line.
I don’t know who these are going to but I pray that we bless there socks off.
They will be included in this large food basket along with some cash others have donated.
I have such a great feeling about doing this & Stu is going along with this also.
I would love to see there faces as they open these gift from strangers.
I am going to include a card for each boy saying (play it forward)
I don’t know with they know the Lord but I will continue to keep them in my prayers
Maybe next year they can do this for someone else.
Mary
Jon,
I think that if I just spend less on friends and family or substitute a new CD for spending the morning with someone, and it ends there then it is harder to see a distinction. My loved ones will truly enjoy a breakfast out just as much as they would enjoy a sweater I bought them, maybe (hopefully) the breakfast more. But what about the $5 I save? Multiply that with the family and loved ones I buy for. Maybe I save $100 this Christmas because I am intentional about it. I can call it good because I helped them focus on the true meaning of Christmas. But I want to LOVE ALL. So while both time and money can display love to family and friends, there are those who need food, clothes, water, books, shoes, nets, medicine, schools, church, homes. God’s will for my life today is clear in terms of where he has placed me and what he has blessed me with financially. I am here and they are there: Africa, Asia, India, Mexico, Inner City. They NEED things I take for granted. But if churches and families are aware of needs and take that $10, $50, $100, $1,000 from each family and place it in a specific ministry with a goal of showing God’s love, WOW!
Does a shoebox matter? Absolutely! Ministries like Angel Tree depend on families to buy a gift for a boy whose parents are serving time. What a great work! That is awesome that your church is doing that! Big picture is we have to pray that the Lord moves in hearts to give to those ministries.
Bottom Line: Where my heart is, there my treasure will be also. When my heart is materialistic and self-centered, look out! But when my heart is informed by God’s plan of love, I believe wonderful things can happen. But there has to be opportunity (various ministries) and encouragement (AC). Otherwise, we just don’t know where to start. I know that this hasn’t always been on the forefront of my mind. My tendency is to primarily to spend money to show love. I have even gone into debt for it. Ouch! I would say that in the last year, God has really been changing my heart and is still doing some crazy work in my life. I have tons to learn and am so thankful for Advent Conspiracy and books like Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn to direct my thoughts. It has been great to see who would be blessed by our time this year and researching ministries that can use our funds.
I think it is great that you are thinking through this! So encouraging to have accountability in this. Thank you!!!
Good insight… you’re right that time and money CAN be more applicable with our friends and family depending on the situation and the need. With needs across the globe, however, it seems money is a very practical and immediate way to have a lot of impact. Really, it is tying together our funds with the ministries of those who give their time overseas or wherever they are ministering. So unless we are ready to pack our bags, change jobs, etc to meet those needs, there is probably a lot we can do to squeeze our cozy American budgets to help some ministries out.
I’ve often heard it said, and I’ve found myself saying it too… “My current job IS like a ministry.” Well, that can be the case, but in my case I’m sure not seeing the fruit of such a ministry. I can continue to work on it and learn to influence those around me more for Christ, but at the end of the day, it is a money-making endeavor. Every so often I need to question if this is where God wants me, and if I would be willing to lose it all for another calling in life. I don’t like to ask that, because I’m afraid of what the answer might be one day.
Good discussion. Thanks for starting this, Matt!