Building Project

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8)

The Christmas Season and all its ambivalent splendor is upon us once again. I love Christmas and know that speaking in any derogatory way about the holiday opens one up to the charge of being either a Scrooge or a heretic. By way of example, Philadelphia is derided as the city that booed Santa Clause. The Puritans, viewed by many as the ultimate killjoys, suppressed the Christmas celebration as a wasteful festival that threatened core Christian beliefs, leading H.L. Mencken to write that Puritanism is “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” Meanwhile, The American Family Association stands watch to decry any commercial euphemism for the holiday which betrays an “anti-Christmas bias.”

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time, right? We all like people to be happy, and what makes people happier than giving them presents?

We want our children, friends and business associates to be happy and to like us, so we give them things. But things cost money and here is where the danger lies. Spending money is fun. But many people have so much fun that they can’t stop! Today, more than 20 million American households are living beyond their means and this includes many Christians. Not long ago I had a conversation with the executive pastor of a prominent church who said that the two worst problems his congregation faced were consumer debt and pornography. These are not unrelated. There is a lack of self-control associated with both. Let us be clear: debt of his kind is not just a financial problem. It is also a spiritual problem. And though our Father in Heaven may forgive our debts we should not look for American Express to be as obliging. There is nothing in the Bible which forbids borrowing money. But it is a sin to spend money you know you do not have, no matter what time of year it is.

This year there is a patriotic dimension to Christmas spending as well. Of late there has been much lamentation in Washington over the fact that the American’s personal savings are actually growing and thus not lubricating the gears of the economy with spending as in recent times. We seem to have reached the point where our economic well-being is built on everyone overspending in order to maintain economic growth. You will recall President Bush’s advice after the upheaval of 9/11: “Go shopping.” The biggest beneficiary of the Christmas shopping bonanza is China. For starters, each year the US Christmas Season gains China $450 million for artificial trees and decorations and $2.2 billion in dolls and stuffed toys.

Christians must learn to live within their means. A memorable character in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield is Mr.Micawber. Mr. Micawber had a difficult time with this and we have this rueful quote from him: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” If your minimum monthly credit card payments are 20% of your income or you are unable to pay your bills on time don’t make it worse this Christmas. You are in trouble and need to take steps immediately to reduce your spending.

• Admit that you have a problem. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Enlist your spouse, a wise friend, teacher or elder to help you with this.
• Don’t use credit. Research has demonstrated that use of credit cards adds over 30% to our spending! If you don’t have that 30% you can’t afford to use your credit card.
• Create a budget and stick to it. To fail to plan is to plan to fail. Know what you can spend and do not exceed that.
• Make a shopping list and estimate an amount for each person.
• Schedule your shopping to avoid last-minute panic buying and to be able to take advantage of sales.
• Be accountable for your spending. We think nothing of being accountable for our devotional lives, our eating or substance abuse. Now become accountable to someone for the use of your money! This takes courage because most people I know would rather admit that they have a problem with alcohol abuse or pornography than to admit they can’t handle their money.

Remember that the biblical standard is not just to “break even.” Paul wrote to the Ephesians saying that “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” (Phil 4:28) Those crippled by debt cannot enjoy the pleasure and blessing of giving to God’s work. Merry Christmas and please give to the Building Fund.