Today we’re going to be talking about the Advent Conspiracy ‘in a nutshell’ … or how all of this could play out in our lives this season… In this Advent Conspiracy thus far, we’ve been talking about those in this world that are in serious need—like those in need of clean water (which we take for granted most of the time). And, I know that some have been thinking ‘we need to take care of our own!’ I’ve heard that said before. And, once again, that’s fine for ‘philanthropic giving’—to keep your donations close to home … and that’s where giving needs to begin anyway. But, for followers of Jesus Christ, we need to listen to what he said. And … he said before leaving this earth that we were to give locally, and regionally, and also … to the ends of the earth! So, are we responsible for those in need half-way around the world? Well, listen now to what else Jesus had to say…
“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. 41 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” – Matthew 10:40-42 (NLT)
So, what we do for others—in the name of Jesus, the Christ of Christmas—really does matter! Today, we’re going to be talking about how the Advent Conspiracy really works—how we can make a real difference in the lives of others who are in the midst of desperate circumstances … even this year. Are you ready? Let’s begin with this:
SPEND LESS! The first thing I want to tell you is that the Advent Conspiracy is NOT asking you to spend more than what you have … as the world does! Instead, it’s asking you to re-direct some of your giving toward those who are really in need. So, what do we mean when we say ‘spend less?’
Folks, the first thing we need to do is qualify what ‘spending less’ really means! It’s really kind of ambiguous, isn’t it? ‘Spend less than last year? ‘Spend less than my neighbor? ‘Spend less than the average American, who spends one thousand dollars on Christmas gifts?
Well, yes … and no… The key is to ask these kind of questions and then be willing to wrestle with the tensions that surface:
- How much is too much?
- How can you tell when you have too much?
Those are the questions that make us think, aren’t they? Most of us have too much, you know. And, if you don’t believe that, then let me ask you this question: When was the last time you moved? I will guarantee you … that for most of us, if we had to pack up our home, with all of our possessions, and move … we’d know that we had too much!
With that in mind, when the Advent Conspiracy is talking about spending less, this is what we’re talking about spending less on…
Jane’s maternal Grandfather (Haden Cuppy) was quite a character. He was a very successful farmer in central Illinois—one of the only people I know who would trade up for a brand new car every year in his later years … and would always have the latest 3-wheeler or 4-wheeler or whatever would help him run down the long lane to the mailbox and cruise around the farm on. He had everything that a man would ever need … or want, for that matter.
One Christmas, the family was all together and everyone was opening up presents. There was wrapping paper flying everywhere! Some of you know how it goes. Someone hands out the gifts. Others open up a gift, while the group watches and enjoys their receiving of the gift… Well, Haden opened up a gift and everyone was watching him. After opening it up, he looked at whatever it was, turned to the person next to him and said, “Do you want this? I don’t really need it.”
Well, I’m sure whoever gave him that gift wasn’t hurt … so much as they were amused. Why? Because the whole family knew Haden. You couldn’t buy him anything. He was a man who didn’t really need anything. You may have well spent that gift money on someone who did have needs, because it was simply going to waste there…
Now, that’s what we’re talking about—cutting back on those things that just get tossed in a corner anyway. We’re talking about really having to think through what we spend at Christmastime … and why we spend the way we do. If we think about it really hard, the conclusion that we’ll come up with is that all of us can spend less somewhere, can’t we?
Now, that being said … ‘spending less’ doesn’t mean ‘spending nothing!’ Advent Conspiracy encourages us to spend less … so that we can GIVE MORE! This scripture should help us understand what giving God’s way is really all about…
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” – John 1:1-14 (NLT)
GIVE MORE! God gave us the gift of ‘presence’—his presence. God’s gift was personal…
A year ago or so, my daughter Rachel gave me just such a gift. I don’t know how you do this kind of stuff on the computer, but somehow—in conspiracy with her brother, Josh—she managed to create this poster and give it to me. I want you to know that this poster—complete with at least two ‘dad-isms’—means more to me than any other gift that she could have given. Why? Well, it’s personal. This gift would not mean anything to anyone else but ME! It’s personal that way and … it’s personal because of who was behind it—my children … and, in spite of this poster, I still think that they are precious! They could not have given me a more personal gift … unless it was the gift of their presence (being together as a family)!
Folks, I want you to know today that God could not have given us a more personal gift than he gave us in sending us his Son! That was the gift of God’s presence … and for about 33 years, it was the gift of God’s family—including our Savior—being together as a family (and I’m sure those original Apostles would agree!)… So, God’s gift—God’s way of giving—was personal. In case you didn’t know, the best gifts always celebrate relationships. So, God’s gift was personal … AND…
God’s gift was costly. The gift from God cost God everything! So, what does that mean for us as we now give to one another? Practically speaking, with God’s gift as our example, it means that we must accept that relational giving will cost us … in many ways…
- It may mean supporting our loved ones financially at some point. (How many of us have got that call from our kids?)
- It may mean supporting our loved ones emotionally at some point. (Have your kids or parents or grandparents ever gone through some kind of a loss in their lives?)
- It may mean giving in such a way that will be risky at times …What if they don’t like it?What if they don’t understand our intent (and I’m sure this crossed God’s mind)? What if they don’t appreciate the time we put into expressing our love for them?
Part of our relational giving will mean that we will be misunderstood at times; that’s a fact … but the gift, as God has shown us clearly, is not about the giver, but about the other—the one receiving the gift … and that makes the investment costly! On the other hand, can you think of a better way to celebrate Jesus … than by giving the way that God gave to us? WE NEED TO ‘GIVE MORE’ IN THESE WAYS…
The invitation to push back against overspending and overconsumption during this season resonates deeply with people from all walks of life—from all sorts of backgrounds…
- We truly have grown weary of the holiday ads or commercials that seem to start earlier and earlier each year…
- Kids struggle to find a connection between their Christmas lists … and the story of Jesus’ birth…
- Parents search for even a fleeting moment of worship—worship that our hearts truly desire and need…
- Many of us simply reach the end of Advent with an aching emptiness inside…
Sifting through piles of stuff we don’t really need and may never use, something deep inside tells us that … yet another Christmas has gone by and … we missed it!
But that doesn’t have to be true for this year! Praise God! We’ve been encouraged to ‘spend less’ so that we can ‘give more’ to those in need. And, since this is what Jesus has asked us to do, it feels good … like the right thing to do … so that even through our actions, we are worshiping the King of Kings fully—that Liberating Lord who born at Christmas over 2,000 years ago…
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been glad to be a part of this conspiracy! Never have I been challenged during a season of Advent to re-think my motives of spending and giving like I have been this year … and I hope & pray that you have, too.
Christmas Eve is coming, folks. And, once again, our Christmas Eve offering this year will be going to Living Water International (LWI) to help dig wells around the world—to help supply clean water to those who have none … and save lives in the process. And, all of this will be done … in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who was born in Bethlehem (just like the prophets foretold) many, many years ago… Not only do they need clean water, but they need to know the Living Water, too (Jesus) and we can help make that happen! So, be praying about what God wants you to do on Christmas Eve … and if you can’t be here, you can still be a part of this Conspiracy Offering by working with our office…
One more reminder: Make sure you pick up an ‘Advent Conspiracy’ tree ornament on your way out today, to hang on your tree … and remind you of the gift we want to give IN JESUS’ NAME on Christmas Eve this year!