Week 2, Friday: God's Excessive Spending

Read Ephesians 1:7-8

Each year, there's the same guilt-inducing question: Are we spending too much on Christmas presents? There are all kinds of Christian organizations now that encourage people to get back to the real meaning of Christmas and quit the spending spree. Even Charlie Brown thinks we've gone too commercial.

Those are good reminders, because we DO lose sight of Jesus in the mall sometimes. We forget how good we already have it without adding to our stockpiles. And burdening ourselves with a load of debt won't feel very good come January.

But there is another side to the issue, a shockingly unexpected side. Because God overspent on us that first Christmas. He broke the bank. Ephesians uses the word "lavished", which means excessive and superabundant. He poured out his love in a way that cost everything. He went all out.

So here's an unconventional bit of advice: If you're going to spend too much on your friends and family this year, redeem it. Turn your excess into a mirror that reflects God's excess. Pour out love in a way that demonstrates his love. Let them know not only how much you care, but how over the top God's care is for them as well.