As time ticks closer to Christmas Day or Christmas Eve – depending on when you celebrate the special occasion, I hear people talk of last minute shopping, the cost of hams and who’s not talking to who. Stress levels rise with this time of year considered one of the 6 most stressful life events along with “divorce, moving house and changing jobs.” See the full article here by Relationships Australia. According to the article, a previous study of North Americans found that 45% of participants “dreaded the festive season” and in their own study Relationships Australia found that of the 1650 people they surveyed around one-third of participants found their relationships were negatively impacted by factors such as work-life balance and financial constraints.
I’m not sure how you feel about these statistics, but when the Father, Son and Holy Spirit talked of the wonderful plan of salvation for mankind, and how the Son would come to be born in a stable, heralded by angels as the Saviour of the world, I don’t think the intention was for us to be stressed to the eyeballs over making sure little Johnny got the train set he wanted or that Mum’s Christmas trifle outdid Grandma’s legendary dessert. Here in Australia, before the grotesque and dark decorations of Halloween have been cleared from the shops, up goes the Christmas decorations and the selling push begins – more lights, bigger decorations, the perfect presents; all the joy you need to make your holiday season the perfect celebration. The media pushes pictures of happy, well-adjusted families, and well-groomed household pets decked in Santa hats all having a wonderful time, perfectly united. It’s a wonderful picture and a great thing to aspire to overall, but so very often far from where most of us are actually at and what we can relate to.
We put pressure on ourselves trying to live up to the expectations of others and feeling that the happiness of all our family relies on us to do it all and provide it all. The big feast, the exquisitely decorated house and the perfectly choreographed Christmas Day. I think as a mum we feel that we must become the Jamie Oliver’s of the kitchen not only for Christmas Day, but also Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and any other Christmas catch-ups that happen over this period. How did we get here and what could and should Christmas look like with less pressure from the world, family and the flesh and more permeated with the heart of God?
I don’t write this article to criticise or condemn myself or others on how we spend Christmas, but as I see and hear about people straining under the weight of Christmas etiquette I want to reflect on our Christmas traditions and maybe ask, “How can we do better?” “What’s the message I want to share with my loved ones and the world that looks on?” Let’s have a look at few key passages in the Bible that I think shed some light on the direction towards a more fulfilling and Christ-filled Christmas experience, and be encouraged this Christmas!
Jesus says in the second part of John 10:10 KJV “I AM come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” There it is – the abundance of God wrapped in Jesus. When He came in that manger so long ago, laying in an animal’s feeding trough because there was no abundance for Him at this time, there was no room in the inn, no place appropriate for Mary to deliver her baby, but rather He was born into a stable, unsanitised, probably no midwives, no doctors, no sparkling white floors, but surrounded by farm animals and most likely the smell of their excrement.
He chose to be born into lack so that we might have abundance! Doesn’t that just fill you with joy? Your King, your Creator, Your God chose lack, chose the lowest place to be born because He wanted to make a way for you and I to know Him and know His abundant life? Is it possible too that He was also showing that whether you live in a palace or a lowly animal stable filled with hay, abundance can be yours? For abundance doesn’t come with how many homes you own or how much money you have in the bank, but who you have in your heart. Which leads me to our next verse about the ONLY gift we truly need this and every other Christmas!
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17NLT). This is the gospel, this is the good news that Jesus came to declare and commands us, His children to share with the hurting world. The abundant life is for EVERYONE! Those who believe in Him, no matter their riches or accomplishments in this world will spend eternity with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! You may lack worldly treasures in this life and struggle to make ends meet, you may be despised by those around you who don’t understand your ‘obsession’ with all things Jesus and the Bible, but you have an abundant life because you belong to Jesus and will spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
I think of the parable Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. While the rich man was alive, poor Lazarus, a beggar laid at his door, hungry and forgotten with the dogs licking his sores. The king cared for himself and had no pity on this poor man and yet as we see in verse 22 of Luke 16 that “when the beggar died and the angels carried him into Abraham’s bosom”, the rich man also died, and “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side” verse 23. He wanted Lazarus to come and give him a drop of water and then go and tell His living relatives of this torment to warn them so they would repent. (Abraham speaks) “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Verse 33. I think this story really highlights where and what our priorities should be — all year round, but particularly at Christmas as we represent the redeemed church to the world and declare the birth of our Saviour, celebrated on December 25th.
What could that look like in my family’s Christmas celebrations? Maybe more time sharing the joy of the Christmas story as we all gather around the Bible and read those wonderful passages about the birth of our dear Lord. Maybe stopping and seeing how we could help a Lazarus who may not be able to even prepare a Christmas lunch this year? Who knows? We might be ‘entertaining angels unawares?’ “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” Hebrews 13:2 NLT. Maybe send a Christmas card to an elderly relative that you know won’t be getting many visitors this year. A Christ-filled Christmas could mean being more deliberate in how we spend our time and money. Instead of spending hours at the shops in the frantic chaos, trying to snare those must-have presents, maybe planning a bit more ahead and just buying one present for each family member and then agreeing together to make a donation to a Gospel-led charity that will ensure others get a Christmas present and feel the love of Jesus too. The time you save at the shops could be spent making memories that matter and reminding us that happy memories are often the ones that don’t involve expensive price tags and high expectations, but rather time together with others enjoying old friendships and making new ones. I’m reminded of the first century Christian’s of the book of Acts (verse 32), “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.” What amazing generosity and hospitality and I pray the Lord can help each one of us to be more like these believers!
Finally, remember if you belong to God — have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you are salt and light in this world. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 not to be like the world. “Don’t copy the behaviours and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” WOW, what a wonderful promise! We can know God’s will for our lives when we choose to have Him be the one that influences our mind, our habits, our thoughts and actions. Am I allowing Him to do that this Christmas? Am I taking my cues from Him in how I celebrate and what I do over the festive season or am I copying the world and looking just like them? It’s challenging, especially when our family and friends may be unsaved or not walking close to the Lord. So how this verse impacts each one of us will be different depending on our circumstances, but can I encourage you to prayerfully consider what the Holy Spirit is saying to you through this scripture and ask for Him to help you imitate Him!
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.” Ephesians 5:1
So it really isn’t about the ham, the decorations, the presents and for some the alcohol, but about the little babe that was born all those years ago that even now, the world is still talking about or trying to not talk about. He is alive, He is working in the seen and the unseen worlds and He is coming again soon! So be encouraged you can make a difference this Christmas in the little choices you make to be salt and light for Him and truly know a joyous, CHRISTmas!
Jesus said to the people that believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLT.