The danger of losing the heart and soul of Christmas

It’s that time of year when we’re all so busy rushing about Christmas shopping that we fail to stop and think what it’s all about – that Jesus is the reason for the season.

We’re caught up in a whirl of almost mindless acquisition that mirrors much of Western society. But we can’t take any of it with us (to the next life), so why are we so frantically running after those mostly material things?

As I write, my dear mother, aged 95, is clearly seeing out her last days during which we will be doing all we can to bring comfort and peace in the midst of her pain. And I’m so glad that, in his official role as ‘curer of souls’, her vicar has been round to pray with her.

There’s nothing like such times to help us focus on what really matters – a person’s soul. That is now our chief concern, as it always is for our family, friends and neighbours.

Be Rich Towards God

Several members of my far-flung family have lost money in business in recent years, and are no doubt struggling to come to terms with that.

Similarly, much of the virtual civil war over Brexit revolves around the issue of finance. City-slickers and others who thrive on trade with Europe care little for the nation’s soul, its health, its sovereignty; they seem more concerned about the depth of their pockets. But neither staying nor leaving is likely to be a cure-all for our economic ills.

It is foolish to ignore the spiritual side of your life and leave your Maker out of the picture.

Jesus told the parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns to store his surplus grain without considering his soul or consulting his Creator. His goal was “Eat, drink and be merry!” The result was disaster. He may have been rich, but suddenly he had nothing – and God said to him: “You fool! This very night your soul will be required of you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

Jesus adds: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God” (Luke 12:16-21). Indeed, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
It is foolish to ignore the spiritual side of your life and leave your Maker out of the picture. As with my family, financial hardship is already hitting a growing number of Westerners who have relied too long on a life of plenty. Further financial icebergs are sure to sink our misplaced hopes and dreams. But if you place your trust in the Lord, you will avoid hitting the rocks (see Psalm 46:1-3; Matt 7:24-27; Isa 54:11).

Trust in Him

The company for whom I worked most of my full-time career in journalism has just gone into administration. I had suspected something was seriously wrong when my pension fund was taken over by a ‘protection’ scheme. “So is my pension secure?” I ventured to ask the new owners. “Yes or no?”

Not surprisingly, the long-winded legally-phrased answer left me none the wiser. So, with pensions apparently going pear-shaped, I’ll keep trusting God – that’s certainly the best pension plan!

With many of us in the West finding far too much comfort and solace in material possessions of late, it’s no wonder we’ve lost focus on our souls, perhaps stopped meeting with other Christians or even forgotten the staggering glory of the Christmas story that tells of how God came down to live among us and be our comforter and strength. His name is Jesus, which means the One who saves, but he’s also Emmanuel, which means God with us.

With many of us in the West finding far too much comfort and solace in material possessions, it’s no wonder we’ve lost focus on our souls or even forgotten the staggering glory of the Christmas story.

Stay Heavenly-Minded

The slaves who worked the cotton fields of America’s Deep South had little solace in this life as they literally slaved away for hours on end under a hot sun. Instead, Heaven became their hope and comfort, even while they were still on this earth, as they sang of a brighter day and a better tomorrow: ‘Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home’ with reference to the way the great Prophet Elijah was taken up to Heaven as he was going about his earthly business for the Lord (2 Kings 2:11).

The song is now more usually associated with England rugby matches as fans stir up their swashbuckling heroes at Twickenham. It was adopted as the national team anthem after it marked a turnaround of their fortunes 30 years ago, following a long losing run in what was then the Five Nations Championship.

With the apparent help of boys from a Benedictine school, who sang it whenever a try was scored following a tradition at their school games, England turned a 0-3 half-time deficit into a stunning 35-3 victory over Ireland.

And by the time the national team returned triumphantly from the 2003 World Cup in Australia, their plane was dubbed Sweet Chariot.

But the song surely needs to become the cry of all our hearts; and not just at rugby matches. For such heavenly-mindedness is bound to make us more earthly use as we spend time worshipping God, loving our neighbours and keeping a loose hold on our material belongings.

Be Still and Know

In the midst of the hurly-burly run-up to Christmas, I can think of no better way to conclude than by quoting today’s (12 December) More Precious than Gold devotional written by Mother Basilea Schlink, founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, a German-based international order set up in the wake of World War II specifically to bless the Jewish people.

Heavenly-mindedness will make us more earthly use as we worship God, love our neighbours and keep a loose hold on our material belongings.

The verse on which she focuses is Psalm 46:10 (CEV): “Our God says, ‘Calm down, and learn that I am God!’”

Mother Basilea adds: “Only in quiet waters does God cast his anchor. God only draws near to a soul that enters quietness, a soul whose thoughts and feelings have been stilled. So avoid all loud behaviour and agitated speech, for they drive away the presence of God. Let everything be still within you and, where possible, around you. Then God will draw near and speak with you.”