HIMPower Magazine HimPower December 2017 | Page 21

A
t the heart of the Christmas holi-
day tradition is giving and receiv-
ing gifts. This ritual is passed on
from generation-to-generation
for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Although Christians celebrate the birth
of the C hrist child, the Christmas holiday
originated out of pagan culture long before
Chris was born. Unfortunately, the Christ-
mas tradition is often void of any meaning-
ful acknowledgement of or reverence for
Christ. In fact, Christmas has become so
commercialized, it is virtually impossible to
see Christ for all the deals and promotions.
According to the National Retailers
Federation, “From Thanksgiving Day
through Cyber Monday, more than 174
million Americans shopped in stores and
online during the just-concluded holiday
weekend, beating the 164 million estimated
shoppers from an earlier survey by the
National Retail Federation and Prosper
Insights & Analytics. Average spending per
person over the five-day period was $335.47,
with $250.78 — 75 percent — specifically
going toward gifts. The biggest spenders
were older Millennials (25-34 years old) at
$419.52. ‘All the fundamentals were in place
for consumers to take advantage of incred-
ible deals and promotions retailers had to
offer,’ NRF President and CEO Matthew
Shay said. ‘From good weather across the
country to low unemployment and strong
consumer confidence, the climate was right,
literally and figuratively, for consumers to
tackle their holiday shopping lists online
and in stores.’”*
From a financial perspective, there are
definite advantages to shopping when the
best deals are offered. If done practically,
shoppers can save on items that are not just
wanted, but are needed, such as clothes for
growing children or replacing broken appli-
ances. The down side is when the enthu-
siasm for buying and receiving gifts takes
center stage, leaving little or no room for
Christ on an over-crowded platform.
The obsession with “getting things”
leaves a spiritual vacuum for those who
profess a hope and belief in Christ. Their
treasure trove is found woefully lacking,
empty and shallow in light of who Christ
is and what He says about their priorities,
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it
gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—
worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in
heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and
burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where
your treasure is, is the place you will most want
to be, and end up being.” (Matthew 6:19-21
MSG)
Clearly, Christ wants our focus to be on
Him above all else, “For thou shalt worship no
other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous,
* https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/consumers-and-retailers-win-big-over-thanksgiving-holiday
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