It’s Black Friday! Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is on the horizon—but unfortunately, it’s easy for us to let this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas become a celebration of materialism and not of the coming Christ child. For Christians, Christmas can be a delicate balance between giving and good stewardship. So how do we manage our spending in a way that honors God?

God talks a good deal about money, and you can find a number of biblical texts pertaining to finances here.

Elsewhere in the Gospel.com community, the Officers’ Christian Fellowship has an excellent series of articles to help you understand a Christian approach to money, and get your personal finances back under control. The Youth Ministry Exchange has an excellent three-party series of articles on the subject. Although they’re written primarily for youth workers, the budgeting advice is pertinent to everyone seeking financial peace; part one is about the struggle to keep money from running your life; part two talks about getting yourself out of debt, and part three discusses planning for your financial future.

RBC Ministries has several good financial resources as well—an online booklet explaining Jesus’ teachings and parables about money; another about cultivating a heart of contentment in your life; and a short devotional about financial stewardship.

Perhaps you’re looking for a gift-giving alternative? What about providing for someone else’s needs? Fellowship International Mission allows you to donate money to provide clean drinking water to people in Africa, where 1 in 6 people don’t have access to safe drinking water. Their Quench the Thirst project is a way for you to be a part of the solution to this massive problem. Many of the other ministries we’ve talked about in recent blog posts have worthy ministry projects that can always use your financial support as well, so find one that fits your interest and consider helping them out this holiday season.

In the words of our Lord from Matthew 6:19-21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

By: Chris. This entry was posted on Friday, November 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 am and is filed under Bible, Christmas, Family, Finances, Holidays, stewardship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.