What If This Christmas You Could…? Would You?

Christmas is just around the corner and the Christmas shopping is done at our house. Well, all except for what I want, which brings me to my point. I’ve been asked, as have most of us probably, what I would get if I could buy whatever I want? My answer is: “I can buy whatever I want.”

I want and buy Perdomo Cigars, kopi luwak coffee and hot pepper sauces. I’m being absolutely serious. My needs, wants and desires are just that simple. Of course I spend money on other things, but I’m not driven to do same.

The idea of spending for the sake of spending just because you can has never motivated me. And as I’ve gotten older and more mature in the Lord, the idea of spending to accumulate things I’m going to leave here when I die isn’t good math to me. I’m not saying that I do not have “things” that I enjoy, but I am saying that I’m not motivated to buy for the sake of buying.

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I want to do for my church, missions and things that count for the Lord. I don’t want more things that I cannot take with me when my days end here, than I have given to further the Kingdom and work of the Lord here on earth. The joy of quietly giving for the Lord transcends anything I could possibly give myself.

God has blessed me beyond measure with health, lucidity, a loving family and close friends. He took a broken sinner and called me to salvation through His Son. Even more implausible, He called me into the ministry and then later, He transitioned me to minister in a way that I could not have imagined.

When I reflect upon those things, I’m reminded they’re things that money cannot buy. I realize that my joy does not come from the pursuit of things but through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Therein I am fulfilled in a way that “things” can never accomplish.

What I want for Christmas, money cannot buy. I want to walk closer with my Lord. I want be more obedient. I have hot sauces that I haven’t opened and there are many times I find a hot sauce or hot pepper dust that I forgot I have. But I am reminded daily of the Lord’s presence with me.

The point I am making is that this Christmas, why not take a moment and reflect upon what we can do for the Lord to further His kingdom here on earth in the time we have remaining?

I’m unapologetically opposed to the social humanism that has infected the church. Many churches care more about social ministries than they do about sharing Christ. Many churches have embraced behaviors that God condemns. In many churches Christmas is more about the spectacle than about what the birth of Christ actually means. They care more about pageantry than they do “thus sayeth the Lord.”

I’m not opposed to gift giving, whatever that gift may be. I enjoy giving gifts. But going into debt for something that has no eternal value is an anathema to me. Have we stopped to ask ourselves just what Christmas really means to us? As Christians have we stopped to ask ourselves exactly where Christ truly ranks as we hustle about buying and planning dinner, etc.?

The Christmas moments I remember most fondly are those that Christ was first in every respect. The memories of Christmas services at our church, holding our son in my arms as we sang hymns and memories of him watching as I preached a Christmas message. Today those memories flood back as I watch him sitting next to his mother during our Christmas Eve candle light service.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t enjoy “things.” I am saying let’s enjoy Christ more. We live in a fallen age that has gone from relegating God to the back of the church to not just removing Him from the public square, but passing legislation that forbids mentioning Him in the public square. Thus, America once the greatest nation on earth the envy of the world, is today proudly and defiantly becoming like the days of Noah.

Is this what we really want as our future? Do we really want to stand before the Lord not having done what we could for Him while we were yet alive?

There are two things that are guaranteed: 1) we are going to die; and 2) the Lord is going to return at a time least expected. It’s entirely possible that His return could be at the moment we are hustling about shopping for “things.”

How many of those “things” would have anything to do with Him? How many of those “things” would be a bible for our child, a book by a Christian author, a CD by a Christian artist, etc.? How many of those “things” would be for someone less fortunate than us?

I would be remiss, if I didn’t also mention that there are many people who are alone this Christmas because they’ve lost a spouse or a loved one. Shouldn’t we ask the Lord what we could do to bring some joy into their lives? Heartbreak and loneliness are acute realities, especially at this time of year. Shouldn’t we find a way to make room at our home for someone we know who will be alone this Christmas?

There was no room at the inn for Jesus when He was born, but the there was room in the stable for the shepherds and wise men that came to see Him. Those shepherds and wise men were treated to a spectacular comprised of the heavenly host that night. Wouldn’t it be Christ-like of us to be an angelic family to a person or even another family this Christmas?