People seem to love Christmas. The lights, sounds, tv specials, movies, decorations, cookies, parties, everything associated with Christmas seems to bring out a sense of joy and wonder to our hearts. Granted this could all be about the commercialism of Christmas that stores and TV companies play into in order to get more of our money but we willingly play along. We seem to enjoy getting swept away in all the festivities and anticipation of this Holiday more than any other. We might hate the traffic, the malls, the crowds, and the surly employee at Target. But these are just things we endure year to year in order to see the excitement a child has when opening a gift on Christmas day. Giving a loved one an unexpected gift is enough to make our heart soar no matter their age. In fact, we often wish we had more money so that way we could truly give a gift we think our loved one is worthy of. I would have gotten you that diamond ring, the new car, the vacation you’ve always wanted if I only had the money to do so we might say. Yet we are often hindered by the money we have. It would be so easy to wish for more money this Christmas.

We might be grateful for the toys, gifts, or money, but in these gifts, we are reminded of the most important gift of all, Jesus Christ.

Wishing for more money extends beyond Christmas. Maybe for a birthday, wedding gift, baby shower, we find ourselves saying “if only I had more money I could get them what they really wanted”. If we are acting a bit more selfishly the desire for a bigger bank account when we want that house with a view, new car, a private jet. We all have this desire for something more and we all believe money is where to turn to fill that desire.

Jesus was not ignorant when it came to the allure of more money and addressed it several times in His ministry. Two instances of this discussion are intriguing when considering them side by side. First, Jesus tells the story of a man who found a massive treasure in a field. Once he finds this treasure he hides the treasure in the field. He then sells everything he owns so he can buy the field (Matthew 13:44). The second story is a young man came to Jesus asking how can get eternal life. Jesus said to him to keep the commandments. The young man, believing he has got this in the bag, nods and says “yes, yes. All these I have kept since I was a boy”. Jesus then replies, go and sell everything you have, give it away, and come follow me. The young man left Jesus feeling depressed. Why? because he had a TON of money and the thought of selling everything, giving it all away, to follow a man who was poor himself was too much for him to handle. He was happy in his comfort.

This is an interesting comparison for a few reasons, but most importantly it is interesting to see what Jesus is assigning a value to. Notice that personal comfort and personal wealth is very low and considered something to get away from for the sake of a greater treasure. In both of these Jesus is saying everything you have, everything you believe you own, everything that you consider precious today, is worthless and worthy to be abandoned for the sake of Heaven and for my glory. Jesus is saying money, power, health, comfort, popularity… is nothing when compared to following me and the glory of Heaven.

Nothing compares to following Christ and The Glory of God

Here’s the point. Jesus knows what we really need and it’s not more money. He knows the thing we truly need more of is God. He knows how the only way we can get to God is through himself. Our treasure, we are so desperately in need of, is not more money but more of Christ because it is only through Him all other desires are fulfilled.

This is why Christmas is such a big deal. We might be grateful for the toys, gifts, or money, but in these gifts, we are reminded of the most important gift of all, Jesus Christ.

Jesus asked for the young ruler to sell everything and follow Him. Why? Because Jesus knew that money creates a false sense of security and through this false security we depend less on the one we need the most. Think of it this way, if you had all the money you could imagine who or what would you depend on? Probably ourselves or our job. This doesn’t work because if we are honest we know about our failures, shortcomings, missteps, and inadequacies. We know we are not dependable all the time and our anxiety rises due to us trying to hide this side of us. Money only creates more anxiety and problems not eliminates them. Money drives us to work more days and more hours taking time away from our families. We know how quickly money can leak through our fingers and this drives us to get more and spend less. We might have large bank accounts but my question is at what cost? Our nerves become frayed, families fall apart, children grow up without a mom or dad since they were at the office all day, we vent our frustration at our spouses because if we vent at work our security blanket could be removed in the form of a firing. We become tired, angry, self-centered, and alone.

Having nothing takes the dependency on money and ourselves and places it on someone outside of us. Who can we turn to when we are hungry but have no money? Where do we go when there is no clean water? It’s interesting to note that the happiest places on earth are in Africa. IN a place where “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is key we have missed it but Africa has got it nailed. Specifically, in a 2003 survey, Nigeria was seen as the happiest country in the world http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3157570.stm think about that. A country with some of the most poverty in the world is also the happiest. Many theories can be drawn from this but it seems that money is not the root of happiness. If that were the case Nigeria should be one of the most depressed countries not one of the happiest.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 says “Whoever loves money will never have enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

Bottom line is this: Money can not nor will it make you happy. Wishing for more of it will only deprive you of finding true happiness and contentment. Instead, pursue after Jesus as if He was your currency and never be satisfied with how much you have in Him. Only through Him will you be satisfied and enjoy life the way it was made to be enjoyed because only Jesus is the source of all things good. Money prevents us from truly knowing Him so do not wish for more money, by doing so you are wishing for more depression, heartache, broken families, and less of God. Like the first man Jesus talked about we need to be willing to “sell out” to follow Him even if it means abandoning our safety and comfort found in money.

As an aside, this does not mean we can or should be unwise with the money God has already provided for us. We should use the gifts He has given wisely and judiciously. This only means do not let money be your life’s pursuit, passion, or God. It is only a thing that is designed to be used and not cherished.