Luke 2:1

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

Caesar Augustus put a burden of tax on the people that first Christmas. It’s discouraging to think about all the taxes that we have to pay:

And the list goes on and on and by the time it’s all said and done, we end up working the first four months of the year just to pay taxes.

It’s interesting to find taxes in the biblical Christmas story. It was because of taxes that Mary and Joseph ended up in Bethlehem.

The heavy burden of taxes reminds us of the heavy burden of sin, but no amount of work can pay the debt of sin; it’s a debt that we cannot pay and a burden that we cannot bear. Sin’s debt is great, and the penalty is even greater.

Christmas has become a burden for many people. You often hear people say, “I dread to see it come and I’m glad to see it go”, because it’s a burden to them.

In the midst of all the silver bells, tinsel, wrapping paper and colored lights we are reminded that Christmas is the gift of God’s Son to us. We know that God so loved the world that He gave…He is the greatest giver; every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. He gave to us the gift of the Savior and for that reason we have joy! We live in a world that is longing for joy. This time of the year we sing, “Joy to the World the Lord is Come”. Yet the world is singing the blues beneath their burden. For some, Christmas is not a time of joy and cheer but of depression, loneliness, and anxiety. The costs involved with Christmas can place a great burden on already tight budgets. From decorations to presents, to parties, to cards; Americans spend over $1 trillion on Christmas shopping. Christmas shoppers spend more than $5 million on their pets for Christmas.

The song says that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year but for many it’s the worst time of the year.

Someone said, “It’s when Santa comes down the chimney and your savings go down the drain.”

Every year people go searching for the joy that is missing in their lives in the malls and department stores.

They look for it in a Christmas bonus. They look for it in parties and celebrations, but they always come away disillusioned and disappointed.

No matter how much alcohol is consumed, joy is never found in it. No matter how many gifts are given or received, joy can’t be found in them. You can’t purchase the joy that only God can give through His Son. No matter how hard we try, we can’t make life better without Christ.

Christmas is about the One who came to bear our burdens. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. You can come to Him and He will give you rest.

We are thankful for all our little "elves" that worked so hard to decorate the church and to make it festive for Christmas. They came out and took their Saturday to set up and decorate six Christmas trees and a nativity.

Pictured left to right: Judy Hedgepeth, Caitlin Griffin, Dylan Hunt, Pat Tucker, Cody Griffin, Shelley Smith, Katrina Smith, Kalia Kelly, Jonae Johnson, Paula Butler, and Amy Griffin.