I will never do Christmas again like I have done in the past. Christmas in Malaysia is totally different than America, yet I see so many similarities. There are decorations everywhere in Malaysia. Santa is at the mall. There are Christmas themed commercials. But it is all so empty. A muslim country putting up decorations to celebrate Jesus' birth? That doesn't make sense.
It is exactly the same in America. People put up decorations before Thanksgiving. The Christmas music is playing in October. And people almost kill each other to get a good deal on Black Friday. People put billions of dollars on credit cards, spending money they don't have on things they don't need.
I like getting presents on Christmas just as much as the next guy. But spending Christmas in another country has changed my view. It is baby Jesus' birthday, not mine (even though scientific research says Jesus was actually not born in the winter, probably closer to June or July). What would Jesus want for His birthday? I can tell you it is not a iPhone 9 or a remote control car.
He wants us to love Him. He wants us to love our neighbor. He wants us to not spend our money on ourselves but spend it on glorifying Him and bringing His Kingdom. If He put a birthday wish in the Bible, it would be John 17, where in verse 24 he says:
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory,
the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
I want to spend Christmas glorifying Him, which I have failed at. I spend time shopping and thinking of what others want and what I want. I forget there are people who don't even know what Christmas is, much less Jesus. How awesome would it be if the billions of billions spent on decorations and presents was spent of Christmas missions trips, giving kids who are starving presents. Or telling people in Muslim countries what Christmas really is.
I love my pastor, Chris Seay. He helped start Advent Conspiracy (http://www.adventconspiracy.org/), whose statement is, "Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All." An amazing statement that we could hear a little more around Christmas.
