Advent and Christmas: The Impact on Stewardship
The Christmas season is such a wonderful time of the year. On the surface level, it’s filled with family, friends, food, rest, and gifts.
However, on a spiritual level, it’s a time of preparation and celebration through Advent as well as the meaningful reflection on what the birth of Christ means to us.
As Christian financial planners, we often take things a step further and focus where personal finances and faith meet.
Our advisors have taken some time to reflect on how the Advent & Christmas season impacts their perspective as stewards.
Christopher Wells on Humility
When I think of Christ’s birth during the Christmas season the main theme I see is humility.
This is a level of humility that’s hard to understand because we don’t have the ability to lay aside as much as Christ has. The creator of all things descended to take on human form - and not only human form, but a helpless baby.
Last year during Advent, fellow advisor Ben Wacek wrote on the topic of humility when God set aside His glory (see Mild He Lays his Glory By). On a similar note, there is an Advent song called “Sing We The Song of Emmanuel” that describes this humility.
Come we to welcome Emmanuel
King who came with no crown of throne
Helpless He lay, the invincible
Maker of Mary, now Mary’s son
Again, we don’t have enough to set aside to come close to the humility found in Christ. He who deserves all worship, honor, and glory came as a baby to be mocked, persecuted, and hung on a cross.
As believers, how can this theme spill into our lives — specifically in the realm of finances? We can set aside expectations.
We know that we are going to give gifts to loved ones, and they’ve likely gotten something for us as well (i.e. exchanging gifts). But what happens if we buy a gift for someone who does not expect it and there is little expectation of receiving a gift in return?
The feeling of the entire situation changes and I believe this is similar to Christ’s gift of his life for us. The gift is unexpected to the recipient (producing more gratefulness), and the giver of the gift is able to better enjoy giving (as opposed to exchanging gifts).
We can also join alongside Christ’s humility by meditating on all the ways God has been generous towards us. God is the ultimate giver. We can’t out-give God; He created and owns all things anyway, so we don’t have anything to give that is fully ours to begin with. We are able to enjoy the gifts that he provides by recognizing what he has given.
Donovan Brooks on Contentment
When I think of Advent and Christmas season, I think of the beginning of a promise being fulfilled through Christ, and I think about the extremely humble way that God came to be with us through the birth of Christ.
Christ, fully God and fully man, came as a baby in a stable during the winter and was born to poor parents in the most scandalous way. Could there be any lesser arrival?
Humility is a predominant theme we see here as well as throughout Jesus’ entire ministry. We saw Him constantly warn about pride and arrogance.
This example of humility coupled with a life changing promise is completely satisfying, or at least it should be. It’s a great reminder that our contentment should be rooted in Jesus, and eternal things, as opposed to the temporary things that are of this world (easier said than done).
The world has a way of sowing discontentment within us, and we see it especially during this time of year. The only way to combat our discontentment is to stay in lockstep with the Holy Spirit and to stay rooted in truth found in scripture.
The Apostle Paul, although a sinner, was a man that figured out the key to contentment:
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I love when Paul says that he “learned” how to be content in all situations. I’m sure his faithful contentment took time to master and total reliance on God.
Advent and Christmas is a great reminder of the contentment, in all aspects of life, that we can have through Christ.
Ben Wacek on Generosity
When I think of Jesus' birth, the first thing I think of is the generosity of God.
Probably the most well known verse in all of the Bible, John 3:16 reads,
For God so loved the world that he GAVE his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God gave us the gift of his son, which is the greatest gift ever given. And not only does the gift of his son change impact our eternal lives, but it also impacts our lives in the here and now.
With God and Jesus as our examples of generosity we also get to experience the joy of giving generously. Through our giving, we have the opportunity to help those in need, spread the good news of Christ to people who have not heard, and ultimately bring glory to God.
Christmas is an incredible opportunity to rest in God's generosity to us, and respond by also living generous lives.
We at the Christian Financial Advisors Network wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We pray that it’s a time of peace, comfort, and joy for you as we prepare and celebrate the coming of Christ. We also encourage you to reflect on the same question that our advisors contemplated,
How does Advent and Christmas affect you and your personal finances/stewardship?
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