5 Ways to Avoid A Covetous Heart this Christmas

The Christmas rush is on and shopping is in full throttle complete with retail marketing tempting our covetous hearts.

How do you as a mom; decorate, shop, bake, and prepare for Christmas this year without wanting stuff you don’t need?

I love shopping for gifts at Christmas. If it snows, I want to risk the bad roads because it puts me in a wonderfully romantic Christmas mood for shopping.

The thing is, that when I am out shopping, I see things that I (think) I need. I live an hour from the stores and thankfully that has kept me from much shopping throughout the year. So, it is easy to buy stuff here and there as I shop for Christmas gifts.

But this year was different as I’ve done most of my shopping online.

The Parable of the Greedy Farmer

Covetousness isn’t a problem unique to our generation.

Even the farmer Jesus spoke of in Luke 12:13-21 was greedy and accumulated so much that he had to tear down the old barns and build bigger ones!

We still do this.

We fill our attic, basement, garage, and storage shed, and should those not hold all our stuff, we rent a storage unit!

“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15

How can you avoid a covetous heart this Christmas and not hoard like the farmer in the parable?

When we die, all our possessions cannot go with us. It is a useless accumulation of stuff and not what life is about.

How can we combat covetousness as we prepare for Christmas this year?

1. Your Riches are in Christ

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Our riches are in Christ Jesus because while we were yet sinners, God gave Him to us. Our true riches are in heaven and not in anything we buy. It’s not that we should not buy anything besides gifts for others, but we should keep this in mind as we shop.

It is too easy to forget that nothing in this world compares to our riches in Jesus. We deserve nothing outside of death and hell and yet instead, we have so much to look forward to in Heaven.

2. Confess and Repent of Your Covetous Heart

In a world consumed with the constant need to shop (especially at Christmas), it’s hard to avoid a covetous heart.

We forget that covetousness is a sin!

We need to confess that insatiable desire to be satisfied with stuff and instead seek to be satisfied with Christ.

I know this applies to my heart and probably yours too!

Our loved ones are those we want to be with us in heaven for eternity. When times are hard, treasure and make memories with the sweet people in your life. Hold them tight because it’s not about buying too much for them!!

Stop right now and confess and repent of your covetous heart. Your heart is where it all starts and from there, it becomes difficult to control when we are bombarded by all the beautiful things in the stores.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

3. Gratitude is Key

As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3

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Do you know that marketing strategies deliberately breed discontent? Their mission is to get us to buy what we don’t need!

Avoiding a covetous heart is having a heart of gratitude.

Here are some mindsets you can culture while you are out shopping this Christmas:

• BE thankful for Christ and His saving grace (do you need grace?)
• BE THANKful for everyTHING God has given you!
• HE is our great Provider . . . So every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).
• BE thankful for your house, car, clothing, furniture, decor, and food as it ALL comes from God.
• GIVE thanks!!

4. Thin Out Your Stuff

Boxing Day comes the day after Christmas and was observed when I was growing up in the British Crowned Colony of Hong Kong (now China). It is the custom to ‘box’ up clothing and belongings to give to the poor.

Not a bad idea but why wait until December 26th?

Once you realize how rich you are in Christ, you will understand more fully how to do with less.

When you thin out stuff you no longer need, you can bless others who are in greater need.

It will be such a blessing this Christmas if you find out the needs of others and fill them.

5. Gift of Generosity

“Few things kill the coveting heart more quickly than depriving it of stuff. Few things reflect the heart of God more than giving generously.” (Worldliness (Redesign): Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World) Dave Harvey

As women, there are all kinds of ways to be generous. The key is to focus on giving to others more than getting something for yourself.

Are you short on money?

• Make homemade gifts for your kids.
• Make homemade gifts for friends. Search Pinterest for ideas.
• Bake cookies for gifts.
• Give as an act of service.

You’ll love watching this video!

I share how not to have a covetous heart as you shop this Christmas. Be sure to Subscribe to my channel!!

If you’d like to read more about what Paul teaches the Corinthians about giving, you will find it in 2 Corinthians 8-9.

Many of you are already giving to others generously and cheerfully and will find this encouraging. I pray that the Lord continually blesses you richly so that you may continue to bless others.

As the days before Christmas diminish, focus on Christ and all He has done for you rather than the stuff you can accumulate.

Jesus Christ is your all-in-all. Nothing will satisfy you even though the world tells you it will!

Ask God to give you a heart after His own heart and give sacrificially. Then you will be freed from the bondage of what this world offers.

What thoughts do you have or can you add ways to avoid a covetous heart this Christmas?

CHRISTMAS ROUND-UP: Read more Christmas posts HERE!!