One Utah mother got so fed up with her three boys’ sense of entitlement, self-centeredness and poor attitude that she cancelled their Christmas this year.
Or, at least, their materialistic version. Lisa Henderson wrote, “We have not cancelled putting up decorations, celebrating the birth of our Savior, or any of our other heartwarming traditions. But we have cancelled presents, Santa, and stockings.”
For the Henderson family, this year is more about giving than receiving. They are taking the money they would have spent on presents on themselves and are putting it towards service projects to help others in hopes of teaching generosity.
They had a clothing drive to gather gently used clothing to send to a village in Northern Cebu, Philippines, that was hit hard by a typhoon last year. On Christmas Day, the Hendersons have invited several widows and older couples who don’t have family nearby to join them for dinner.
That’s one approach. Another is to keep presents, Santa, and stockings in perspective by placing the major emphasis on Jesus’ birthday. The season is not about us and our list, but about Him and His coming. We give gifts because God gave us the greatest gift, His Son Jesus.
Jeannie Cunnion wrote, “Christmas is about anticipating and celebrating the greatest gift that has already been given … Our focus shouldn’t be on whether or not we have a tree overflowing with gifts, but on whether we have a home overflowing with love. His love.” (www.jeanniecunnion.com).
I’m glad God didn’t cancel Christmas, aren’t you? We need this time of celebration, this annual reminder that God sent His Son to be the Savior of the World. We need a spirit of giving to prevail over our society’s consumeristic mindset of what’s in it for me? We need to focus on Christ.
What would you guess is on God’s Christmas list?
God wants our worship. When the angels announced the good tidings to the shepherds watching their flocks by night, sharing that the Savior was born, the sky filled with an angelic choir praising God: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, and good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14). Immediately the shepherds went to see Jesus.
When the Magi from the East found the infant Jesus, they fell down and worshipped Him. Then they presented gifts (Matthew 2:11). Is your Christmas filled with worship?
God wants our seeking. The Wise Men sought Him. God still desires that we long for Him. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirst for God . . .” (Psalm 42:1, 2a). Do we thirst for God?
God wants our service. Serving others in the name of Jesus brings honor to Jesus. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of your brothers and sisters, you do for me.” What can you do for others this Christmas?
God wants our total commitment. Will we ever grow beyond half-hearted commitment and give God our whole heart? He certainly didn’t hold back when He sent His Son. Are we holding back on Him?
During the Christmas season, many Southern Baptist churches promote and collect an annual offering for international missions that goes directly to support around 5,000 missionaries serving globally. The national goal this year is $175 million.
Several years ago, a pastor received an unusual call on Sunday afternoon. That morning, the church had begun collecting this offering, and as finance committee members were tallying the results in order to give a report that evening, they found a unique response on one offering envelope. The envelope had been turned inside out, and the names of a couple were printed inside.
The caller wanted to be sure that the offering had not fallen out, and asked the pastor to call them to explain the situation.
“Yes, that was our offering,” the husband told the pastor, “and we meant it.”
The pastor inquired further. “We couldn’t think of anything better to give the Lord than ourselves. This is our decision to surrender everything to the Lord.”
So they first gave themselves. That’s what God wants most for Christmas, our life totally surrendered. Are we totally His?
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[Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. The church family gathers at 352 McDonough Road, just past the department of driver’s services office, and invites you to join them for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. “Like” them on Facebook and visit them at www.mcdonoughroad.org.]
