A lot of people have forgotten that Christmas is celebrated because it marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, people only care about extravagant parties and frenzied shopping, apparently showing that they've lost the true spirit of the holiday.
Chuck Bentley, CEO of Crown, the largest Christian financial ministry in the world, wrote for The Christian Post that Christmas has been exploited by retail companies so they could sell more products. In turn, customers who are easily fooled by marketing tricks end up buying a lot of things they don't truly need.
"Thanksgiving weekend marks the official launch of holiday shopping, with the average American planning on spending more than $800 this Christmas," he said. "It is appropriate to show our loved ones we care; but I'll offer a few tips for doing so without unnecessary financial stress. This will help keep the season more about Christ's love than Santa Claus."
First, Bentley reminded people to count their costs this Christmas. He used the Bible verse Luke 14:28 to remind people not to go overboard with their spending. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" the verse reads.
Bentley said people should be honest about what they can afford, and if they can't afford to get the gifts their loved one desires, he urged them to seek a more meaningful alternative.
"Consider that you might make something more meaningful (and less expensively) than you can buy, and it can be a fun family tradition to bake or sew or craft or build things that show the true purpose of a gift — that show your love and concern for the people in your life," he said. "Even a handmade card can be a keepsake especially if you take the time to write something — a memory, a special verse, a prayer — that shows how important someone is to you and your family."
For those who usually send their friends and relatives handwritten cards during the holiday season, Bentley suggested that they send electronic cards instead. The warm well-wishes will still be there, and they'll be able to cut down on postage costs.
At the same time, Bentley said people should invest on experiences and not stuff. "Most of us have all the things we need, with a few exceptions. Have you considered a family trip as a gift (no wrapping paper required) or enrollment in a class to open new opportunities for your child?" he asked.
And as far as investments go, there's nothing better than an eternal investment. Personally, Bentley said he and his family make it a point to serve others during Christmas so they are reminded of the reason for celebration. Jesus died on the cross to save people from sin, and He best exemplified servanthood in that sense.
"As a family, consider donating some of what you intended to spend to invest in the work of God on earth and to show your love for the least of these," he urged. "Many wonderful organisations serve the needs of others to the glory of God, and this is a good time of year to sacrifice some of our spending money in honor of the sacrifice that Christ Jesus made for us."
