Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
The holiday season is here again, and the usual rush to procure gifts and material goods for the celebration has already begun. During this time it's important for us to understand that God has no problem with traditions that are conducted in a manner which will honor and glorify His name, for He has made us as social creatures, and when friends and family get together for innocent fellowship and celebration where Christ is honored and glorified by what is said and done, God is well pleased. The 25th of December is purportedly supposed to be about Jesus Christ, even though the historical facts about His birth differ greatly. However, the issues that stand at the core of the celebration seem to remove our focus from off of Christ, and have them centered on the creature instead of the Creator. Especially is this the case with the icon Santa, whom many have now come to adore and look forward to, even more than Christ.
The very image by which the Icon Santa is portrayed, is a symbol of excess in eating and drinking, and therefore we should be careful lest the spirit of unbridled indulgence that pervades the season, imperceptibly take hold of our minds, and drive us into intemperance in eating, drinking, and spending. During this time millions of people are prone to throw caution to the wind as the shopping for gifts and material possessions reach a feverish frenzy, and too many of us do not stop to think of the mountain of debt that will inevitably accrue, if we do not think wisely before we act. Especially is this the case where the unrestrained use of credit cards is freely indulged, since extensive research has shown that most people tend to spend a whole lot more when using plastic, than they would if they were using cold hard cash.
This is the reason why the title for the blog for today is labeled "Santa Claws" for it is a well documented fact that most of us get into debt over our heads during the holiday season, only to find out early the next year that we must spend many months, paying for purchases that were not really needed, at interest rates that can put a serious dent in our financial resources. As a general rule of thumb, the principles of good stewardship given in the book of Genesis should be especially observed during this season of wanton spending.
In other words, even though it is very good to buy gifts for family and friends, and to have good fellowship with one another, yet we should be very careful when spending, if we do not have a plan in place to replenish that which is used, for if we don't, we will almost certainly run into the red, and the shackles of debt will bind themselves closer around us, till we are taken in the snare of satan's iron grip. Let's read:
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it".
The words "Replenish" and "Subdue" refer to sound habits of stewardship, replacing that which has been used, and having control over the material blessings God has placed at our disposal. When these habits are implemented across the entire spectrum of our financial experiences, we will never become a slave to debt, a condition which has caused much sorrow, and brought much embarrassment to many families and individuals. It is not the will of God that we should be mired in the use of money that has not been earned, for the Bible makes several candid statements about this practice that has caused the financial ruin of millions. Let's read:
Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
As we purchase our gifts and look for bargains and material goods let us not shop till we drop, but let us exercise wisdom by asking Christ to direct us in all the ways of His choosing, so that after the holidays are passed, we will not be suffer from any financial hangovers. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to take Jesus with us everywhere we go, so that His guiding hand may be upon our every move. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!