Last week I mentioned some traditions that people might have in their life and I feel that one of the traditions I mentioned is the same for most people. I feel that around this time of year people are always offering up what they are thankful for. They may offer this information in general conversation, a Facebook post, a thank you card or personal thank you in person, around the table at thanksgiving dinner and in other possible ways.
But then after they stuff themselves with turkey and express what they are thankful for - from stuff to people in their life - this crazy thing happens to some people that very night. This crazy thing is called Black Friday. The very same people who were just thankful for what they had descend on their local stores fighting for the latest deal. We can all fall into this category of wanting more more more and right after we declare how thankful we are for what we have.
This very idea of greed can be seen at the beginning of the 2000 “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” file. The Whos were GRINCHED by the holiday season with wanting more and more stuff. The movie begins with the hustle and bustle down in Whoville with everyone shopping and trying to get deals. Cindy Lou even asks “isn’t this a bit much” referring to all of the stuff that her dad was frantically buying. Cindy’s dad responds with “isn’t this what Christmas is all about” and Cindy just shrugs her shoulders. [1]
The Grinch also makes a comment about this when he tells them all that “all your gifts come to me in your garbage” while attending the Whobilation. It is also the Grinch that realizes the true meaning of Christmas after he steals all of their things thinking that he had stopped Christmas from coming, but he hears The Whos singing from the town below. The Whos had realized that it wasn’t about the stuff and that Christmas was about more than things. The Grinch a few moments later also realizes the same thing and “maybe Christmas means a little bit more”. [1]
Greed can make our hearts two sizes too small. We start to think about ourselves and the stuff that we want to get for ourselves and lose what really matters at Christmas. The presents and lights are great and all. But Christmas is about giving. Greed and giving don’t go together.
Christmas starts with giving (Luke 2:1-7). God gave us Jesus to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). This wasn’t done out of a greedy - two sizes too small - heart. This was done out of a giving heart that was three times bigger than a normal heart.
Greed causes our hearts to shrink. Giving causes our hearts to grow. This is the season of giving.
God gave to us and we should give as well. Don’t let greed GRINCH you this Christmas season.
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[1] How The Grinch Stole Christmas, 2000 film
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