Financial Priorities and the Holidays
Today's message in church was about priorities and money. I promise I am not getting "churchy" on you. 'Tis the season for giving...and wanting. "What do you want?" It's a question I have said so many times in the last week to people I give gifts to during the holiday. And, honestly, it's a question I have had run through my own mind this week. Buy two for you, one for me. I don't have many people who give me gifts during the holidays. I have two family members, and that's pretty much it for me this year. I used to get gifts from co-workers, but a recent job change has removed that from my life. As I get older though, I have found that I don't want gifts from the people in my life. Sure, it is nice to be thought of and it is nice to receive, but I don't expect it. The holidays really have become more about giving than receiving. Unfortunately, that isn't always the case.
The question raised in church is where are your priorities? Who among us will wish, on our death-bed, that we had bought more stuff? There isn't anything intrinsically wrong with wanting nice things, or new things, or bigger and better things. The problem lies in what we are willing to sacrifice in order to get those things. Working longer hours to earn more money rather than going home and spending time with family. Pushing people out of the way in a store to get the last The Year's Hot Item. Buying a boat rather than paying down debt or setting money aside for a child's college fund. These are just a few examples of ways we may have our eyes set on something other than what is truly important. Is there someone in your life who feels your "stuff" is more important than they are? How did this happen?
Have you heard of Goop? You can check out their Holiday 2017 Gift Guide here. They are known for their expensive merchandise. For example, an $80 money clip is a suggested stocking stuffer.
Brass Money Clip- $80
$85 Rock- and it comes with this handy pouch
The question raised in church is where are your priorities? Who among us will wish, on our death-bed, that we had bought more stuff? There isn't anything intrinsically wrong with wanting nice things, or new things, or bigger and better things. The problem lies in what we are willing to sacrifice in order to get those things. Working longer hours to earn more money rather than going home and spending time with family. Pushing people out of the way in a store to get the last The Year's Hot Item. Buying a boat rather than paying down debt or setting money aside for a child's college fund. These are just a few examples of ways we may have our eyes set on something other than what is truly important. Is there someone in your life who feels your "stuff" is more important than they are? How did this happen?
Have you heard of Goop? You can check out their Holiday 2017 Gift Guide here. They are known for their expensive merchandise. For example, an $80 money clip is a suggested stocking stuffer.
Brass Money Clip- $80
Or, how about the rock Nordstrom sold last year. Not only did they sell this $85 rock, but they SOLD OUT!
$85 Rock- and it comes with this handy pouch
These items are luxuries. There is not one reason I can think of that someone would "need" these items. Then again, look around you. How much of the items around you right now fall into the "need" category? Like I said before, it is okay to want things. Truly. It is okay to splurge, to buy bigger and better. The problem lies in the way(s) in which these items are acquired. Are they at the expense of something or someone else?
So, as you move forward into this holiday gift giving season, think about your priorities. How can you balance giving to the people you love with the stress of spending money you might not have? Give yourself the permission to spoil, to buy, and to give. You also owe it to yourself to be honest about what and who is important in your life.
For holiday shopping tips, visit Clark Howard
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