Perspective is an important thing to maintain while Thanksgiving and Christmas approach. As a matter of fact, it’s important year-round. It is very easy to lose sight of the reason for our celebrations. Little catchy slogans like “Jesus Is The Reason For The Season” are not really good enough for me anymore. It seems as if we are a culture more bent on consuming the meaning of Christmas than we are serving it. I am not against the culture of an American Christmas at all. I love it. I just don’t want to say that “I’m doin’ it all for Jesus,” because I’m not. I want to do more for Jesus while I’m enjoying the prosperity of our country. I’m enjoying putting lights up and listening to Bing Crosby, but I’m not for one minute thinking “this is all in the name of Jesus.” I don’t need to. God is fine with celebration. God is not fine with things like poverty, injustice and hunger. His kingdom will have none of it!

As a Christ follower, if I pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” I should also realize that I’m here on this earth for a reason, and if I can bring a little bit of his kingdom to the here and now I should. So let’s allow for some perspective while we celebrate Christmas this year.

• Nearly two billion people worldwide drink unsafe water. As a family, get together and send some money toward this problem in the name of Jesus. What would be a drop in a bucket for us would be gallons of fresh water to someone else.
• Eight hundred forty-two million people don’t have enough to eat worldwide. Perhaps it would be better to experience the phrase “Merry Christmas” from a volunteer at our local food bank as you donate goods or time than it would be from a cup of Starbucks coffee.
• It seems appropriate during Christmas to consider praying for and being mindful of the 18-19 million refugees worldwide being displaced because of oppressive governments and tyrannical dictators. Jesus was born under the same circumstances.
• Though I have no problem with being a consumer, I do have a problem with sweatshops, child miners and pollution. It is possible to make purchases this year from ethical and responsible companies from places like ethicalconsumer.org.

So do you want to serve the meaning and message of Christmas a little more this year and consume it a little less? Do you want to bring a little balance to a time of year that needs it? Consider incorporating some of these suggestions into your Christmas season. Maybe you and the family can sit down and come up with your own way to serve the meaning of Christmas this year. I promise you that you will be blessed!

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