As I drove the streets of Cagayan de Oro City, I noticed that there were very little lights along the road and just a few Christmas decorations on houses and buildings. Sa loob na lang ata ng malls mayroon, and yet most people do not seem to care. Bakit kaya? Hindi na ba uso si Santa Claus? Or baka naman there is trouble in his factory in the North Pole? Kasi, almost everything today is made in China na!
For decades, we have been celebrating Christmas with Santa Claus and his reindeer Rudolf, as the focal characters. Because of the persona of Santa, the world celebrates Christmas in a very festive manner with a lot of gift-giving. Kaya siguro during December, we wish people to have a "merry" Christmas. But look at where this perspective has brought us. Many people waste a lot of money during this time of the year, kaya siguro as time goes by, they have less money for lights and decorations.
Because of the attitude we have developed, most people use up their 13th month pay as soon as they get it and even end up in debt by the start of the following year. The way the world celebrates Christmas has made people poor. Was this the message of Jesus birth? Diba, sabi ng Matthew 1:21, He came to save us from our sins so that, according to John 10:10, we may live in abundance?
But does Jesus want us to experience abundance only after we die and go to heaven? Matthew 6:33 says that if we make Him our king and obey His ways, He will add all good things to us even while we are here on earth. When we obey, our celebration during Christmas may become better and better year after year. Hindi katulad ngayon na we become poorer and poorer as we seek to celebrate Christmas with Santa.
We just had our Christmas party on the farm last December 19. I was both happy and concerned about the many people who filled our hall. I was happy because this means the business has grown and that we were able to provide more jobs for the community. But I was concerned because I know these people have been added to my stewardship for the Lord. Yet, this was not always the case on our farm— when we were just starting, we had very little during Christmas and our hall was only half full. As I watched the people enjoy, I got excited because I know that if we continue to follow Jesus and obey His ways, God will allow our celebration to become better and better year after year. Sana all Filipinos will experience Jesus this way, including you.
I would like to encourage you to celebrate Christmas properly, by giving honor to the One who came to save us from our sins so that we may live in abundance while still here on earth. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!
