Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1Tim 6:17-19)
You may remember that this is the same passage cited last month as an encouragement for the wealthy (that is, all of us) to maintain an eternal perspective regarding our temporal assets. Paul’s writing is aimed primarily at adults but this is a wonderful passage to share with our children, especially during the Christmas Season. One may balk at the characterization of our children as “those who are rich in this present world.” But America’s advertisers know otherwise and spend tens of millions of dollars annually marketing specifically to them.
Indeed, as the historical reality and spiritual content of Christmas ebbs in America the focus of the holiday has defaulted to children and those who love them. How ironic then (or maybe not...) that Christmas as it is generally practiced in America today is bad for children! It teaches them that Christmas is all about THEM and their wants. It fills them with envy and covetousness and creates a desire in them for things that simply will not make them happy. Under the rubric of “for the children” all manner of foolishness has been justified. One may practice bad financial stewardship in a misbegotten quest to purchase our children’s happiness but be forgiven because it is “for the children.” It cows many Christian parents into practicing the “polite fiction” of Santa Claus and encourages needless consumption of useless goods for the purpose of ephemeral happiness. The result is that, for parents, the joy of giving molders into burden, obligation, and duty. For children, receiving becomes expectation and entitlement.
The remedy? Understand that Christmas is no more “for the children” than Easter is. Believing families must moor their Christmas activities in Christ and the message of the Gospel. We must make clear to our children that the manipulative TV advertisements and the meaningless secular madness reported in the media as sales figures and Mommy-riots in toy stores (What C.S. Lewis called “exmas”) is not the holiday believers celebrate. Believers celebrate the birth, the incarnation, of Christ, the One promised since Genesis 3:15, and remember that the baby in the manger was the One who “came to give His life as a ransom for many.” Christians give because God gave. It IS more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
Children are not just little adults. Accommodation should be made for them and their understanding at all times. But the message of doing good, being rich in good deeds and generous and willing to share while putting their hope in God is a good starting place at any age.