Presents or Presence?

Posted by ryand on Dec 7th, 2009 | no comments home title

Several weeks ago, Tami and I got up early in the wee hours of the morning and decided to see what deals were out on “Black Friday.” Our first stop was Target. As we got to the store, everything was crazy! The parking lot was jammed, people were cutting one another off, all in search of a “present.” Once we got inside things were no better. I don’t know if it was the lack of caffeine or the frenzy of effective marketing, but the store was sheer chaos. Even I was caught up in the furor. I mean who can resist DVD’s when they are only $3.99! I quickly found myself asking not whether or not I needed a new DVD but how could I pass up on such a deal? Oblivious of those around me, I looked through those DVD’s to find the ones I wanted and moved on.

Since that time, these $3.99 DVD’s sit on my entertainment center unopened. All of the clamor and the chaos really hasn’t made the smallest difference in my life. Lately, I have been wrestling with the fact that Christmas is more about “presence” than “presents.” How did a celebration of Jesus laying aside his rights as God, humbling himself, and being present with humanity become about buying presents for ourselves or even those we love. Why do we spend our money on DVD’s, TV’s, and Video Games when the reality is that there is genuine need all around us. (I’ve purchased all of these in the last 12 months, so I feel this struggle too! ) How has the presence of God himself made flesh become an opportunity for us to accumulate stuff for ourselves? Could anything run more counter to the true meaning of Christmas?

Here is what I am challenging myself and our congregation to do. This year, ask God what percent of your Christmas budget he would have you use to meet the needs of the poor and oppressed. Following in his example, lets choose to lay aside our rights to comfort and be present with those in need. Take that portion and give it to others or to a service organization such as Worldvision, Compassion International, or Missoula 3:16. These organizations serve those that have true need. Let’s choose to sacrifice that DVD, TV, new game, that we don’t really need and give to those who have true needs.

This Christmas may we recapture its true meaning- Christ’s presnece as Immanuel, God with us and be used by him to be his presence in the lives of others.