Give Him Your Christmas List

Christmas season begins immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday.  Stores thrive and shoppers race around to find the best deal and just the right gift.  They are zoned in on their list of recipients and will not stop until all have a gift. 

Some keep a tally of cost spent on each recipient.  Everyone must receive a gift of same value.  If “Sally” wants a DVD player, costing $40; then “Johnny” must get an item costing $40.  We stress ourselves out to please everyone.  Is the season really about equality among gifts?  Does monetary value really have that much influence on our happiness?  Do we hold that much jealousy for one another? 

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

(Hebrews 13:5)

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 

(1 Timothy 6:10)

Money can place a wedge in relationships with each other.  More importantly, Satan will use it to place a giant wedge between you and God.  We cannot serve two masters (see Luke 16:13).  Giving must come from the heart, not the credit card.  Take time to really see what blessings you can pour onto your list of recipients.  Ask God to place on your heart what the recipient really desires this year.  You may find that the gift He asks you to give requires $0.  Your loved one may just want to spend time with you.  They may want you to come and have an afternoon of baking cookies together.  Maybe an afternoon of carol singing to a nursing home, serving a meal to those in need or just walking downtown to view the lights.

 

Money can steal your faith.  We can fall into patterns of never having enough.  We work overtime, take on another job or horde all the money earned ‘in case of an emergency’.  God does not want to be second place on the list of masters.  Obedience to Him requires ridding ourselves of fleshly desires.  If we become too focused on what we don’t have and keep listing the things we think we need; we lose sight of the blessings God wants to pour out on our lives.  Money is but a temporary item in this temporary home.  Use it to bless others in need this season. 

Let God fill out your Christmas list this year!

God, thank you for this day.  Thank You for all the blessings you pour on my every day.  Show me who is in need this season and guide me to give as You desire me to this year.  Thank You for every opportunity to serve You.  Keep my eyes focused on You.  I love You.

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.
Sheree Craig