It is genius, really worthy of Rockefeller how stores get people to buy Christmas decorations. The masses will spend upwards of 150 USD or more for a tree they will use once a year. Then there is the little things, 3-12 USD for a single ornament, new lights because your old ones won’t work, and everything that dazzles the eye with its grandeur, only to lose the luster on Dec 25th after all the presents are unwrapped.
The whole scheme reminds me of the Apostle John’s warning, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16). I love this translation, “the desires of the eyes” also called “lust of the eyes” which is what the holiday decor is all about, to entice you to buy the tinsel gold and then realize you just spent all this money for stuff you have to store all year and haul out once a year, by then its luster or allure, its golden shine has faded.
Christmas trinkets are how the stores sell us garbage. Yes garbage. Have you looked closely at some of ornaments, figures, Swedish houses, trees, and so forth at your department stores? They held together by cheap wood, glue, and sparkles that will if not stored perfectly, will fall off. Its brilliant, like how in Turkey they paint garbage with gold paint and sell it as a Byzantine heirloom. You pay a buck or pound or yen here, and there, but in the end you gave the goods away and have something your kid could have made at school.
Now I remember a time when they made really fine decorations that stood out in their craftsmanship, but to get those you’d have to go to Germany’s Christmas Village or find a super pricey store that sells ornaments for 300-1000 USD. Which going into debt for decorations you see once a year is not something I advise.
The yearning for “all that is bright” and beautiful in Christmas decorations stems from our own emptiness, the hole in our souls we try to dress up with lights, figurines, and the plethora of Christmas crap made of glue. Our inner life in the Lord is so hollow, we chose to beautify the outer with decor; look at the most beautiful churches, The Hagia Sophia, St. Peter’s, St. Basil’s, they all are gorgeous, but their churches are cults who preach a false gospel (Galatians 1:8-9). The outside of the cup is clean, but the inside is dirty, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25). We cannot fix our spiritual illness, our lack of deep relationship with God that we create with all our noise and tech and insecurity by decking the halls. The halls and walls that need trimming and healing are in our Spirit; we need to commune with Christ who lives in us and embrace our deep and close relationship with Him. Set aside the Xmas trash painted with gold, and seek greater treasures, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21).
You don’t need another Elf On A Shelf, you need Emmanuel to help you with those restless, anxious, and insatiable feelings.
Listen, the desire (lust) of the eyes does not accomplish the peace and joy you seek for your soul. Only Jesus can do that and He isn’t to be found in glittering ornaments, trees, and sparkling things; He is inside you if you believe in Him as Lord (Sovereign God) and believe He died for all your sins and was raised from the dead. Save your money, and “seek first The Kingdom of God!”(Matthew 6:33). You will then find what eludes you with each purchase of holiday cheer. Amen.
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