A Moment With Pastor Fred
It’s easy to idealize the holidays. Behind the lights and glitter, human depravity doesn’t go into hibernation. All families witness the curse of the fall. What specifically can cause the holiday hassles?
Unresolved conflict. Every family in a sense is dysfunctional because of sin. Christmas can remind us of old conflicts never truly solved. Financial pressures. Folks overspend at Christmas. Taking months to pay off credit card debt isn’t wise. Unsaved family. Not everyone is from a Christian home. Unhealthy eating. I’m not trying to guilt-trip anyone, but most of us eat more sugar this time of year than any other. This can have a physical effect on our bodies. Absent people. There’s an empty place at our tables. Unrealistic expectations. We work hard to create a perfect holiday – and then someone disrupts it.
Knowing and identifying these problems can help. But there’s more. Phil 2:4, Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let us this season be more concerned about serving others than seeing our own needs met. Look for ways where you can renounce selfishness. What happens when you don’t get your way? Pout? Complain? Or look for ways to practice humility. When Augustine was asked to list the central principles of the Christian life he said, “1st humility, 2nd humility, 3rd humility.” How do we get it? It comes from our union with Christ. It comes as we renounce selfishness and put others first.
Others Lord, yes, others. Let this my motto be. Help me to love others, as I live for Thee.