Advent Conspiracy Week Two: Spend Less
14005 Stumptown Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 875-1156
The subject for the second Sunday in the Advent Conspiracy is "Spend Less." This would have been the topic of yesterday's sermon.


SPEND LESS

Spend less is an ambiguous goal. Spend less than last year? Spend less than my neighbor? Spend less than ____ (you fill in the blank)...

The truth is there is no formula. The challenge of this tenet is to be willing to ask more questions and then be open to hearing what God says in return.

  • Is this something I want or something I need?
  • Why do I want to buy this?
  • What kind of company am I supporting if I purchase this product?
  • Can I afford to spend this amount?
  • How many presents do we actually need?

You see, spending less requires us to plan. Instead of mindlessly shopping online and ordering more than we know what to do with, we take the time to think about each purchase. We strive to thoughtfully evaluate what we support with our spending, and we allow our spending to support products, people, and causes worthy of being supported.

It is not enough to say no to the way Christmas
is celebrated by many; we need to say yes to a different
way of celebrating.

It's important to remember that when we choose to spend less on Christmas presents, it doesn't mean that we love our friends and family any less. In fact, we've found that the creative, intentional, gifts we give showcase our love – and perhaps God's – more clearly than ever before.

More than just an invitation to say no to overspending, this is an invitation to a new way of celebrating. This year start a new tradition of spending compassionately and responsibly.
Some ideas to help you spend less this Christmas:

  • Make a budget and then stick to it.
  • Research companies that are Fair Trade or ones that do give-backs.
  • Pray for the people on your Christmas list before purchasing anything.
  • Notice how much you're spending on other Christmas activities (going out to eat, new outfits, wrapping paper, decorations, etc). Find one area where you can cut back.
  • As a family, set the same amount to spend on each other. You'll be surprised at how creative your kids will get when they have a budget to work with.