Spend Less

“For God so loved the world he gave us a shopping season.”

Wait a minute... Jesus came to give abundant life. So why does Christmas leave us feeling so spent? When we spend less anxiety, energy, worry, and money on things that don’t matter, then the things that do will come to the surface of our lives. We all love Jesus, but it’s hard to feel it when life gets clogged with obligation, traffic, stores, and debt.

Seek out just a few people you trust and agree that this year you are not going to commodify your love for each other. Figure out how to give each other time, attention, and love, then channel the money you save to something that reflects the heart of Jesus.

Christmas abounds with God’s energy. If we don’t misspend it, we will find ourselves free to worship, love, and give more authentically. Two percent of America’s Christmas budget could drill water wells for half a billion thirsty people. That would honor God and save lives, but spending less is really about us having more life.