|
Introduction: Despite the fact that the majority of the world unscripturally ascribes religious significance to Christmas, this special day can actually have a very debilitating effect on us spiritually. There are some inherent spiritual dangers wrapped up in the way our society celebrates this holiday. This week, enjoy the celebration, the time with family, the gift giving and the food, but take care not to let Christmas cripple your Christianity. Notice with me, three ways in which Christmas can have a disabling affect on our spirituality and how to avoid these pitfalls. Discussion: I. Don’t let Christmas cripple your contentment in Christ with greed and materialism. A.
Though one
might think Christmas heightens our understanding of the Lord’s
words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts
20:35), Christmas often leads people to deny this principle. I
know whenever I go to a store, I am constantly reminded of all the
possessions I would like to have. Christmas provides a great way
of getting them for free. For most people, television increases
these desires as the corporate giants fill our minds with “I
want,” “I need,” “I deserve” and “I gotta have.” B.
Secondly,
there are those who believe if they could just get that new
_________, then they would be happy and life would be good. Or,
“Maybe we could just get money this year, then we could get
whatever we wanted.” They are focused on “what I want.”
While they buy gifts for others, the most important part of the
holiday to them is when they find out what they received. C.
If this
describes us, we have violated Matthew
6:19-21. We are not to be focused on laying up treasures here
on the earth, but rather laying up treasures in heaven. D.
Matthew 6:24 describes
the danger in this. Once we begin laying up treasures on earth,
coveting what others have, focusing on what we want, we are in
danger of trying to serve two masters. This is an impossible task
and eventually we may be led away from God. After all the love of
money is the root of all kinds of evil (I
Timothy 6:10). E.
There are
three steps to avoiding the crippling effects of greed and
materialism. 1.
Be content
with having God always with us (Hebrews
13:5). 2.
Be content
in whatever circumstances you find yourself (Philippians
4:11-13). 3.
Give without
expecting anything in return (Ephesians
4:28; Acts 4:34-37; Luke 14:12-14). II.
Don’t let
Christmas cripple your joy from Christ with depression. A.
Though Andy
Williams sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,”
during the Christmas holidays more people suffer depression than
any other time of the year. 1.
Some become
depressed because they didn’t get what they wanted for
Christmas. 2.
Some become
depressed because they got all they wanted and after a day or two
were just as miserable as before. 3.
Some become
debt depressed when their first credit card or “holiday loan”
payment comes due. Somehow, when the money finally has to be paid,
the few hours of fun on Christmas morning do not seem worth it
anymore. 4.
Some become
depressed remembering a loved one who has died. B.
The danger
of depression is two-fold. 1.
Depression
causes a person to turn inward forgetting about the needs of
others, causing the depressed to violate Philippians
2:3-4. 2.
Secondly,
the depressed often turn against God. “Perhaps God doesn’t
even care anymore,” they think. “After all, if He did, why
would I feel so miserable?” C.
Destroying
depression. 1.
Regarding
the first two causes of depression, refer back to point I. If we
refrain from greed and materialism, we will not suffer this
depression. 2.
You can
destroy debt depression by avoiding debt. Your world will not end
just because you do not give your children as much as you would
like to give them. Neither will your child’s world end. If you
have already run up your cards, it is not too late to take stuff
back. In the long run, you will have more and enjoy it more if you
wait until you can pay cash for gifts to your spouse and children.
3.
The only one
of these four causes of depression that is even remotely
justifiable is the fourth. That is, depression caused by
remembering a deceased loved one. However, even this depression is
dangerous and needs to be overcome. There are only two things I
know to help overcome this depression. First, remember that God is
always with you (Hebrews
13:5). However, because, as one little girl once said, we
often need someone “with skin on,” we can turn to others for
help. We do not do this by calling people and expecting them to
somehow help us overcome our depression by making us happy. We get
help from others by helping them. When we get outside of ourselves
and see the needs of others, we are able to overcome our own
struggles with depression (Philippians
2:3-4). III.
Don’t let
Christmas cripple your commitment to Christ with other goals. A.
While the
world erroneously believes Christmas draws them closer to Christ,
Christmas sometimes has the opposite effect. Sometimes, it pushes
Christians away from Christ. B.
Christmas
often pushes Christians away from Christ in two areas: Time and
Money. 1.
Christmas is
a busy time of year. With extra cooking, shopping, concerts and
visiting family, there is not much time left for other things.
Unfortunately, this often means Christ gets left out of our lives
in the Christmas season. During December, we do not have time to
pray or study our Bibles. During December, we do not have time to
teach people the Gospel (which is truly a travesty because this is
the time of the year when most people are open to at least hearing
about the gospel). Sometimes, we do not even have time to meet
with the saints to worship. After all, we are traveling. Or, we
have family in and we do not get to spend much time with them
throughout the year. As a cousin of mine once asked, “Don’t
you think God will understand?” I am sure God will understand.
However, I am sure that God will understand we broke His law (Hebrews
10:25). Do not let Christmas control your life and cripple
your commitment to Christ. 2.
Because of
the expenditures which accompany American Christmas celebration,
many Christians turn their wallets away from Christ. They have
spent so much money on gifts and food that they have to cut back
somewhere. Sadly, because creditors will call us expecting money
and elders will not, contribution is one of the first things to
go. Sometimes it is not just December’s contribution but the
whole year’s. For those who take out huge Christmas loans, there
next year’s contribution is used to make payments on last
year’s Christmas. C.
We are
supposed to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33)—yes, even before the Christmas holidays. Make a
commitment to Christ right now that you will not lose your
commitment to Him through these holidays. As Paul said,
“Discipline your body daily lest you be disqualified” (I
Corinthians 9:27). Conclusion: Don’t let Christmas cripple your Christianity. Rather, let your Christianity govern how you spend your Christmas. Enjoy yourself and have a great week, but as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes says, “Remember now your Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
|
||||||||||
