A recent newspaper article stated that Texans will spend an average of $1380 this year on gifts and entertaining for Christmas. This is a significant increase over last year’s Texan spending of $899. The national average for 2009 is expected to be $1145 or 21% below the Texas average.

There are some interesting changes in these numbers. Of the $1380, only $464 will be spent on gifts. The remaining $916 will be used for decorating, entertaining, and general holiday cheer. That represents a decline in gift-giving from 2008’s total of $498 but a dramatic increase in entertaining from $401 in 2008.
I guess that means that I will be receiving fewer pairs of socks this year, but I may be able to have seconds on dessert.

These various numbers and statistics cause me to wonder who will be the real beneficiaries of our various Christmas expenditures. Will my money mostly be spent on
grandchildren? Will I choose to become a Mr. Scrooge and not shop for anyone? Or will I take a look beyond my immediate circle

of family and friends and see some genuine needs that I might be able to help meet? I believe that is the question to which all believers should give serious thought.

Our churches are helping us discover some of the hidden needs in our communities and in our world. We are beginning to see that poverty and homelessness are not just somewhere else. We are having our eyes opened to those who are hungry; to those who live without adequate shelter; to those who endure the cold of winter without heat; and to those who have unmet medical needs. Our awareness does not have local boundaries but extends to far and distant lands where children and adults die because of poor nutrition and untreated illnesses.

Christmas is truly a time for giving. Related to the first Christmas, the innkeeper gave the one spot that was left - room in the stable - for a young, expectant mother to give birth to Jesus. The angels gave a message of hope to a group of lowly shepherds. The shepherds gave worship to the newborn baby. The Magi gave physical gifts that reflected Christ the Savior and Christ the King.

This Christmas we will all give a variety of gifts to family and friends. That is good and part of our family’s heritage in celebrating Christmas. But will we also open our hearts to the hidden needs of people that our churches are revealing to us week by week? The ways we can give are numerous – clothing and food to the hungry and cold; volunteering time to help serve a meal at a shelter; the purchase of a gift from an Angel Tree; and a monetary gift to a missions offering are only a few ways from which we can choose to make a difference.

I don’t know if your family or mine will be above or below the Texas average for Christmas spending this year. But we all should give a gift in Jesus’ name that will make a difference for a person’s life today and for eternity. That would make Christmas 2009 – PRICELESS!