This is the 2^nd in a 4 part series about looking at Advent differently from a Christian perspective.

Part 1 – Worship Fully

Part 2 – Spend Less

Part 3 – Give More

Part 4 – Love All

I remember some of the first gifts I bought with my own money. I remember saving some money so my brother and I could buy Electronic Battleship for ourselves (then we had to learn how to set it up…it took forever).

Since then, every year I’ve spent a bit more and a bit more and a bit more on Christmas. I’m married now, and my family has grown a little in the last 10 years, and the reality is that I keep spending more. I’ve been in debt because of Christmas more than once and I’m not proud of it. Something’s got to change.

For me, Christmas hasn’t always been about the things of Advent – of hope, peace, joy, rest and love – it really has been all about me.

I want to ask some hard questions this year about how much I spend and how my habits have been contributing to the attitude of consumerism in my family and my community, so I’m challenging others to join me in spending less.

If I’m honest, I’m telling a story by the way I live my life – not only at Christmas time, but all through the year as well. Not only am I telling a story but all of Canada is telling a story by how we spend our money and time at Christmas.

In my last post, I mentioned that Canadians spend $36 billion every year on Christmas. Here are some other interesting statistics I found:

• $160 million on Real Christmas trees from farms or retail stores.
• $36 million on plastic trees.
• $402 million on toys & electronic games.
• $200 million on cosmetics & fragrances.
• $200 million worth of imported decorations.*

To be honest, I’m shocked at some of these numbers. I also wonder how much of our purchasing supports slavery in other countries. This spending tells a story that is very different to the Gospel of Jesus Christ…very different to the message that is intended by the Advent (appearing) of a King.

Spend less? Really? Many of us, including myself, are afraid that spending less on gifts for friends and family will somehow portray that we love them less, but spending less on Christmas gifts for others doesn’t mean that you love them any less.

You see, if we begin to spend less money and time at shopping, then we will have more space to begin to give more of ourselves (like Jesus gave of himself) and will be making space to love people more, not only in our families but around the world as well. We will have more to give away and we will be freed up to give more…relationally.

I think that its not necessarily about spending less, but spending differently. In fact, I think spending less requires us to think more about what we are going to get the person so it causes us to take time and think through what kind of gift would show the person we’ve thought about them and that we care for and love them.

I hope that this year will be a year that we begin to tell another story, so here are some tips for spending less:

• What does the person you are buying for actually need?
• What are the consequences on the community? Buying local?
• Are you buying from a store that treats its employees well?
• Are you buying a product that contributed to slavery in another country
• Do you know where the product comes from?
• Do you agree with how the product was advertised?
  • Do you children see these ads?
• What are the environmental consequences?
• What is the carbon footprint of the product you are purchasing?
• Is the process to manufacture it contributing to massive pollution?

For more on this, have a look at James 5:1-6 and Luke 12: 32-34.

*Source: http://www42.statcan.ca/smr08/2006/smr08_069_2006-eng.htm