Thanksgiving, Black Friday and now Cyber Monday . . . done for another year. But not the contagious must-buy-it-now frenzy, the endless pursuit of the great, screaming deal. That madness is not over yet.
From Black Friday through to Cyber Monday and beyond is the most significant shopping season of the year. Not only are prices slashed but shipping on most items is also free, increasing online buying incentive. Major stores (Sears, Target, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Toys R Us etc.) offer super sales in store or online while stocks last.
It’s all very tempting. After all, who doesn’t want to splurge on gifts for loved ones and maybe a little something extra for the home too?
But for some people, getting a deal is infectious. They keep thinking of what else they might buy; browsing through sale items in hopes of scoring the next big thing. It’s called materialism. It’s a deceitful lure, an idol that promises happiness—falsely—and it’s the antithesis to what God’s Word teaches.
- Jesus teaches us to give all to Him by giving to others.
- Jesus teaches us to give until it hurts.
- Jesus teaches us to give to the poor.
- Jesus teaches us to take the coat off our back and give it to someone in greater need.
Jesus’ words are radical, super-charged with righteousness, cuttingly challenging, unwittingly simple. They can make a person feel really uncomfortable!
No wonder Jesus was hated for His “upside-down” way of looking at life (upside-down by men’s standards, not God’s). No wonder He ruffled some self-righteous feathers. His words revealed mankind’s selfishness.
So where does all this leave Christmas shoppers?
For followers of Jesus, Christmas shopping provides an opportunity to bless others—and that includes the orphans, widows, military families and underprivileged. Here are some ways to do just that:
- Most churches provide an Angel Tree where you can pull off a tag telling you what gift to buy for a needy child. (For example, a little 7-year-old girl whose dad is in prison would like a Barbie doll.)
- Many ministries offer ways to send gifts to poor children in other countries. (Orphans First, for example, has an extensive Christmas Program providing gifts to orphans and impoverished children around the world.)
- Sleep Train collects new toys for foster children. Their motto: “Not everyone can be a foster parent, but anyone can help a foster child.”
- Local homeless shelters collect gifts – even gently used ones – for people in need.
- The YMCA in Oceanside collects food for elderly people and toys for children in need.
- Many local stores (Albertsons, Stater Bros…) provide an opportunity at the cash register to give a dollar or two to families in need.
- Many local Christian fellowship groups bring children’s gifts across the border from San Diego to Mexico. (Orphans First participates in this mission.)
There are many ways to turn this season’s shopping fiasco into a blessing. It just takes a willing heart and practice.
Janey L. DeMeo, M.A.
Copyright © November 2011
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