To paraphrase Charles Dickens, Christmas can be the best of times or it can be the worst of times. For Christians, it should be the best of times. But the world, the flesh, and the devil sometimes conspire to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Here are four simple tips to help make this Christmas especially joyful.
1. Keep Jesus First
The Christian life is surprisingly simple. Not easy, but simple.
First and foremost, we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:29-30). The presupposition of Christianity is that we can know and have a personal, intimate, relationship with God. He desires to be as much a part of our lives as we allow Him to be.
Scripture tells us a surprising amount about Jesus. His life was quite simple. One account in Luke 10:38-42 tells us that He dropped by Mary and Martha’s house one day for a visit. Martha immediately went into the kitchen to fix lunch (is there anything more noble than preparing lunch for the Lord Himself?). She quickly became exasperated to the point of thinking Jesus didn’t notice or care how hard she was working and asked Him to tell Mary to come help.
Jesus said, “Martha, my dear, you are worried and bothered about providing so many things. Only one thing is really needed, Mary has chosen the best part and it must not be taken away from her.” (J. B. Phillips)
How many Christmas seasons, events, and activities does that describe? If the Lord Himself were to be the honored guest at the events that we host to celebrate His birthday (and shouldn’t He be?) what would He enjoy most?
Most likely simple, relaxed, genuine and intimate fellowship and conversation. And that is 180 degrees out from what the world, tradition, and social media holds as the standard that bigger is always better.
2. Keep Others Second
The second component of the Christian life is loving our neighbors—our spouse, children, parents, siblings, extended family, friends, next door neighbors, co-workers, etc.
In loving our neighbor, it is helpful to remember that not all neighbors are equal! The four words for love in Scripture are agape, eros, phileo, and storge. These refer to God, spouse, family and friends, and then everyone else, in that order. Remembering God’s priorities can eliminate much stress during the holidays.
This also begs the question “what is love?” The world has its definition of what love would look like. Advertisers have a definition. Have you ever noticed how many luxury car commercials air during Christmas? But the Bible also offers helpful guidelines.
The Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12 tells us to “do for others what we would like for them to do for us.” 1 Corinthians 13 is a gold mine of practical description on love, none of which is material. Philippians 2:3-4 helps us put our thoughts towards others in a proper perspective.
Simply put, love is giving whatever we have that is in the genuine best interest of the recipient. A priceless gift that everyone on our list would love to receive, will always fit, and will never be exchanged is our time.
3. Keep it Real
The Last Supper was arguably the most incredible, profound, and intimate time that our Lord spent with His disciples. Though it may have only lasted a few hours, John devoted over 25% of his entire Gospel to this one event.
It was to be the last one-on-one time recorded that our Lord had with the disciples. During the meal, He prepared them to be the beginning of the New Testament church. They shared a meal, after which our Lord washed the Disciples feet.
Then He said in verses 13:34-35: “Now I am giving you a new command, love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. This is how men will know that you are My Disciples, because you have such love for one another.” (J.B. Phillips.)
In this new and final command to the disciples, Jesus told them to love one another as He had loved them. He had just washed their feet. Foot washing was a cultural norm in Biblical days, was done by the lowliest servants. This was in keeping with traveling on foot with dirt roads and sandals.
How this might apply in our day is that in any social gathering the primary goal is genuine, authentic, unpretentious interaction with one another. “Serving” one another by caring about and demonstrating sincere concern for them. Actually talking, listening, empathizing, and showing that we really do care. How much of our entertaining today is done with very different motives in mind?
4. Keep it Simple
Scripture makes it clear that we are to love God and love others. It also tells us 1 John 2:15 that we are not to love the world or the things that are in the world. Simply put, we are to love people and use things.
The world incessantly tells us that we are to love things and use people. Much of the stress during the holidays is due to the gravitational pull of the culture in which we live trying to make the holidays about material things.
Keeping up with the Jones’ or family or friends or neighbors. Always trying to stay one step ahead or at least not fall behind. Buying things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like. Going into debt giving gifts that people may not even want or need in the hopes that the illusion of happiness is something that we can purchase if only for a moment.
What if instead of playing these games we do something different? Have the courage to suggest not giving gifts at all this year. Or making a donation to that person’s favorite charity in their name? What about giving coupons for acts of service to loved ones such as babysitting, cooking, car detailing, yard work or IT help? Any of these ideas can help keep the focus of our time with family and friends on the relationships and not on material distractions.
Re-evaluate Traditions
Traditions can be wonderful things, but they can also hold us back from God’s best for us. Maybe this would be a good year to evaluate our traditions, keep the good ones, and replace others.
Creating good memories and traditions might be singing Christmas carols, playing family games, drawing names and sharing the best memories or things you most appreciate or admire about the person’s name that was drawn.
Our Lord Jesus had a fascinating way of doing the unexpected. With His help and inspiration, we can experience His peace, joy and presence in unexpected ways. That that would make this a most joyful Christmas season.