Many people sit around the Thanksgiving dinner table and have been asked the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” The pressure to answer is only backed by the expectations from our friends to get something cool or expensive. Our expensive, capitalist culture has started to overshadow the true meaning of Christmas. Whilst presents themselves are not bad the true meaning is not only taken away, but Christmas becomes very expensive for families who celebrate it. Yahoo Finance says:

“The National Retail Federation estimates consumers will spend a record $902 per person on average this holiday season on gifts, decor, and seasonal items.”

This begs the question, are Christmas presents themselves the problem? The answer is no, but consumerism is. Prioritizing buying expensive gifts for loved ones can be very risky because it distracts from the true meaning of Christmas.

Christians should know that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus, and nothing triumphs that. However as the capitalist mindset becomes more and more prevalent within our culture, presents become more and more important in the lives of children and adults alike. They start to become greedier in wanting more expensive things because this time of year is the best time for them to get it. Parents and family members want to buy things that are of high value to the people that are receiving them due to the cultural pressure in America. Frontier Economics says: 

“Present buying isn’t easy. Ideally, we would give something whose value to the recipient is greater than its cost, having found something original and beautiful that surprises and delights. But the risk is that the value to the recipient is actually lower than the cost […] Joel Waldfogel, an academic who has researched this ‘deadweight loss’, estimates that at least 10% and maybe over 30% of the total value of present exchanges is wasted.”

All of that wasted value adds up to hundreds of dollars that could be used for more important things such as giving to the needy. The Bible makes it clear that giving to the poor and needy is greater than being rich. For example Proverbs 19:17 says:

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

There is nothing wrong with wanting to buy presents for the people you love, but you should also use your finances and wealth to further the kingdom of God. Whenever someone gives to the poor they will experience that feeling of giving something that has value to the recipient no matter the cost. Students at Westminster Christian Academy have strong opinions about gift giving at Christmas. Michael Gorzela, Sophomore, said: 

“I personally ask for very little because I don’t think it’s the purpose of Christmas and yes, I typically get half of what I ask.”

Gorzela himself is proactive in responding to the problem, but also has thoughts on what the majority of people would say or do. Gorzela said:

“The only way to fix this issue is for people to be more satisfied with what they have. I don’t think people would put a huge effort in fixing it, especially because marketing pushes it everywhere.”

It appears that the main solution would be to accept the fact that it truly is the thought that counts, because material things are truly not as satisfying as fulfilling the task of showing love to one another. Whilst this issue of over gifting is true it does not mean that we cannot give and receive presents from each other. In fact the Bible encourages us to bless one another with gifts. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says:

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Therefore as Christians our main focus this holiday season should be on Jesus, and the meaning behind gifting rather than gifting itself. It is essential that as we give to one another we should also donate and supply the poor and needy with necessities whether expensive or not. We must also stop letting the pressure from advertisements get in our heads. Companies spend billions of dollars just to manipulate citizens. We must not fall into pressure, but instead let us use our finances wisely this year to reinstate the true meaning of Christmas, and do as the Bible commands to bless others.