Go Beyond

Christmas! It’s the most wonderful time of the year — at least for some. But for others, Christmas is a painful time. Many will not hear the story of Jesus, nor have gifts under a tree, nor experience the joys of hearth and home. Americans will spend an estimated $450 billion dollars on Christmas this year. The irony is that billions of these dollars will be spent to purchase stuff for ourselves or others rather than for Christ, whose birth we observe at Christmas. Instead of buying more stuff we don’t need, let’s buy gifts for Jesus. Mother Teresa was committed to looking for Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor, the hungry, the sick, and people in desperate need. This Christmas, determine to look for Jesus in His distressing disguises and when you find him, offer your gift.

The Nations | When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Two-thousand years later many people groups are still waiting to hear this good news for the first time. Of these people groups, most are located in the 10/40 Window. However, Christians today invest 91% of their missions dollars in countries that are already more than 60% Christian but only 0.03% in countries where less than half the people have ever heard of Jesus (World Christian Trends, p. 81). This Christmas buy fewer gifts and then give the money saved to missions organizations that are targeting the world’s least reached peoples.

The Needy | More people than ever before are in financial trouble. Our church’s benevolence ministry and our local assistance ministries are overwhelmed with increasing numbers of people in need of food, rent or mortgage assistance, or help with utility bills. So, review your gift list and ask yourself whether you really need to buy more stuff for family and friends who already have lots of stuff. Consider giving a gift in honor of a family member or friend to a local assistance ministry. Or, purchase groceries or clothing or gifts for a family in need. If you know a single Mom, pay to have the oil in her car changed or buy a new set of tires for her car. Pray and ask God to guide you in doing something practical to help someone in need.

The Neglected | Last December, I posted a blog entitled Merry Stressmas. I wrote that those who feel lonely throughout the year tend to feel even lonelier at Christmas. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people spend Christmas alone. Whether separated from others because of death, divorce, or distance, the stress produced by loneliness during the holidays can be overwhelming. If you are lonely, consider volunteering at a local shelter or nursing home. Doing something for others will relieve some of the stress of loneliness. And, if you are surrounded by family, consider inviting someone who is alone to join you for a Christmas meal. Set one or two more places at the table and invite others to experience the warmth of family and fellowship in your home.

I hope that you will add the nations, the needy, and the neglected to your Christmas list. If each of us will make even small changes in our spending, we can help to make this a Christmas worth remembering “for all the people.”

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For more ideas about how you can make this a Christmas worth remembering, please take a moment to read my Christmas Reflections.