Christmas Is More Than Gifts - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - December 12, 2024
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11
When I was a child, I used to think Christmas was all about gifts. I would make a huge Christmas list and hope that my mother was able to get everything on it. Similar to many children, I only cared about toys and gifts. Rather than looking at the true meaning of Christmas, I was overtaken by everything my eyes could see. Endless toys filled the department stores, and I wanted all of them.
As I look back on my younger self, I have sympathy for her as she was only a child. However, my feelings towards Christmas have changed drastically. No longer am I stuck in the materialism that has taken over Christmas. Christmas is sold to us through expensive gifts, but this is not what Christmas is all about. Whether we are able to afford gifts or not, we can still celebrate Christmas.
Christmas is about celebrating the Savior. Jesus Christ was born into the world to save us from our sins. He humbled Himself by taking on the form of mankind and was born in a humble stable. The humility and love shown to us through Jesus’ actions is by far the greatest gift we could have ever received. We didn't do anything to earn the Lord’s favor, yet He freely chose to love us and die the death we deserved.
When we look at this rather than the materialism of the world, we can see the true meaning of Christmas. Once we do this, we will no longer be controlled by the wants and desires of the flesh. While there is nothing wrong with exchanging gifts on Christmas, it can lead to many problems if the holiday is not being celebrated for the Lord. Christmas is much more than having a fancy gift wrapped for us under the tree.
If materialism is something we struggle with, we need to ask ourselves these questions:
-Would I rather spend my day celebrating Jesus or opening endless gifts?
-Do these gifts actually give me lasting joy?
-Does the quality of my life truly come from my possessions?
When we answer these questions, we will gain a better understanding of where we are. If we are still struggling with materialism, we need to ask the Lord for help. He can help us overcome this struggle and provide true joy for our hearts this holiday season. If we don't presently struggle with materialism, we can still ask God to help us always remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Luke 2:11 tells us the true meaning of Christmas: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Over two thousand years ago, Jesus left heaven to be born into the world, live a sinless life, and bring us back to Him. This is the entire reason we celebrate Christmas. It is not about flashy gifts or expensive gift cards.
Christmas is all about Jesus, our wonderful and amazing Savior. When we start applying this truth to our lives, we can be joyful for the Christmas holiday. Our hearts might be heavy or we might be stressed out, yet we can still have a Christmas spirit because of the Lord. A biblical Christmas spirit isn’t found in holiday decorations, elaborate gifts, or fancy dinnerware. Instead, it is found in a humble sinner worshiping at the feet of the Lord.
Apply this truth to your life today. Christmas is more than gifts under the Christmas tree. Whether we have a lot of gifts given to us or none, we have already received the greatest gift in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the Redeemer of our souls. Christmas is for Him, not for materialism.
As Christmas approaches, we can take helpful measures to steer away from materialism. Instead of looking for gifts, we can begin looking at ways to bless others. Maybe our mom needs some help around the house, our friend needs support, or our spouse needs someone to process things with. All of these can be blessings to our loved ones and they have nothing to do with materialism, yet they have everything to do with real love.
Let's pray:
Dear Jesus, Christmas is all about You. I’m struggling with materialism even though I know it is wrong. Please help me to look to You and find joy in You instead of in presents. I don’t want to be consumed by materialism anymore. Help me celebrate the true meaning of Christmas this year. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Juliana Malta/Unsplash
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Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
