Matthew 6: 28-29, Matthew 6: 34, Matthew 6: 24, Galatians 5: 22, 1 Timothy 6: 17

Lucy Smith

It's nearly Christmas, how exciting!....are you ready for it? Have you got all your Christmas presents yet? Most of us will spend hours rushing around making sure we've got everyone a present to open on Christmas morning!! Young people, old people, famous people, celebrities...no-one is missed out in the madness that is CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. This year Victoria Beckham spent 23,600 quid in just TWO HOURS Christmas shopping! Awesome huh?! Most of us think that we'd be sorted if we could spend that sort of money at Christmas. And it's true, at least we wouldn't worry about being broke in January!

But does having lots of money really make us happy? This Christmas, are we only gonna be happy if we get the exact present we've asked for? The latest computer game, the newest trainers, designer clothes...

Jesus has a very good answer to this. He doesn't say that having money and things is wrong but He says... 'All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen colour and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.' (Matthew 6: 28-29)

Basically He is saying - hey, check this out, don't worry about getting stuff because God, who created the heavens and the earth...(pretty powerful & awesome!) has got everything, so you don't need to worry!

It's a bit like this - going up to a billionaire and saying 'I'll share my £10 with you if you'll share your billions with me!' God has everything and so He wants you not to worry or be concerned with 'getting stuff' coz He's got all you need. Jesus says to you and me 'Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes'. (Matthew 6: 34)

Now that's amazing isn't it?! Jesus is asking us not to get so concerned with getting the newest trainers or the latest game console - but to get concerned about Him and His way of doing things. Then you'll be truly happy. Why? Because the new trainers will get dirty and the latest games console will become boring, but Jesus will always be there and will always help you get the best out of life! It's true; Jesus explains 'you can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god you'll end up hating the other...you can't worship both God and Money.' (Matthew 6: 24)

This Christmas, enjoy what presents you give and you get, but remember that God has everything you truly need. He can give you things that no money can buy. "...what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness" (Galatians 5: 22)

And it's not just at Christmas-time, every day we need to remind ourselves that having money or not doesn't make us who we are. Your identity isn't based on what you have or what you don't have.

"Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage." (1 Timothy 6: 17)