Dear Friends in Christ,

I looked up the amount of money (according to the internet, but who knows how accurate this is?) to be spent on Christmas. The amount given was between $9.75 billion and $1 trillion. I have heard lots of people who are unhappy about the "commercialization" of Christmas. I have heard lots of talks about how Jesus and his family were poor and therefore, we should eschew wealth. It is easy to point out that when Joseph and Mary come to the temple, they paid for two turtle doves or two pigeons, which was the traditional offering made by poor people. Yes, it is easy to find passages in the Bible which seem to show the problems of wealth.

However, Timothy 6:10 states, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." The problem is not in having money, it is in loving money. I would even go so far as to say we are to love people and possess money, rather than trying to possess people and love money! A pastor from my early 20's used to preach on the rich man and Lazarus. He did an exceptional job of illustrating how the rich man was not just rich, but lived a lavish and extravagant life in his riches. At the same time, he did not seem to notice a poor man, starving and dying at his doorstep.

Have you ever noticed that what we consider wealthy is always relative to other people and circumstances? It is in the comparison that we determine if someone is wealthy. The comparison is where that love of money comes into play. Are we as good, or successful, or intelligent as others. When we measure these things by money, we will find there is always someone else who seems to have more. It is then the desire for more money pushes forward again.

Consider then the wealth of God. God created ALL things. God owns ALL things - forever. We possess (borrow) things for a lifetime, but it is all gone when we die. Yet there are two things on which we can focus at Christmas.

1. Jesus gave up ALL wealth, more than any person on earth could possess, to give his life as a ransom, so that we would have eternal life. That is sacrifice IN the message of Christmas.
2. It does not matter what we spend on Christmas because it is not a competition. However, perhaps it shows us something we need to consider.

Jesus tells us to love one another. Often people show their love for one another at Christmas through gifts, dinners and celebrations. I will be the first to say that our actions, concerns, and caring for others is far more important than gifts and parties. At the same time, I am pointing out that maybe, just maybe, people see Jesus at Christmas and respond in amazing and generous ways to one another. Perhaps it is NOT just commercial hype, but our desire to show the love of Jesus any way we are able.

I am not contending that we should all go spend more and more. What I am contending is that rather than speculating about the motives of spending, let's give thanks that people around the world are actively finding a way to celebrate Jesus. I would love for more of them to be in church, but I also know that Jesus is present in their gifts, because He was the gift of life for all.

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Jon