Refrain From Greed

3 Jan

“Let us keep Christmas beautiful without a thought of greed.” ~ Ann Garnett Schultz

I know that many, if not most, people are in the midst of “clean up mode” in regard to Christmas. While the season does not end for another nine days, for most, the trappings of Christmas are over. Trees are starting to come down, decorations are being put away, and bills for the Christmas gifts are being delivered in the mail.

After Christmas, many look at their bills and say, “We spent how much?!” The purchase of Christmas gifts can be quite costly, especially with so many of the electronic games and toys. A lot of times, Christmas centers around getting rather than giving. Christmas can be a relatively greedy season.

We need to keep the spirit of Christmas alive and we cannot do it if we allow greed to enter the picture. Christmas is about purity, love, goodness, and kindness. Greed should not be a part of the season in any way, shape, or form.

Usually around this time in the season, I get out my DVD of A Christmas Carol and watch it again. A more wonderful story about the true meaning of Christmas, I do not think you can find. Charles Dickens was struggling financially when he wrote A Christmas Carol and was also quite concerned about the plight of poor children in his society. His struggles brought about a wonderful story and shined a light upon a desperate need.

We can make as much of an impact when we are down as when we are doing well. All we need is to channel God’s love into what we are doing and ask God to prosper the work of our hands.

FAITH ACTION: Find some way to benefit another today in a way that will bring you no reward other than the joy of being able to help.