Christmas is coming, have you started your shopping yet? The day after Thanksgiving marks the largest shopping day of the year, known as Black Friday. Second is the Monday after, known across the land as Cyber Monday due to sales being largely on-line purchases. The focus on gift giving can put a large stress on one’s personal finances. As such, there may be no better time of the year to re-think our money matters; no better time than to think-Biblically about finances.

Make your gifts appropriate. Sometimes we spend more on a gift than we should because of fear – fear of giving a bad gift, fear of being out given, fear of damaging a relationship. Remember that good relationships do not inspire fear. If you are afraid that a less expensive gift will damage a relationship, then you need to spend more time rather than money on the person. Perhaps the gift of dinner together would be more appropriate. Honoring a relationship is far godlier than buying someone’s affection.

Admit the truth about your finances to yourself. Take a close look at your money situation, how much you have and what bills need to be paid and how much you tithe. Develop a realistic budget for holiday spending. Honoring God is more important than giving impressive gifts.

A good rule every time of the year (not just at Christmas) is to not overspend. The best way to accomplish this? Leave the credit cards at home. Budget for gifts this year, and don’t put anything on credit. If that means giving people gifts with a higher sentimental value than monetary value, then get creative and find or create those gifts that will warm a heart instead of drain a bank account. High value gifts may be fun to give, but they also stress us out as we wonder how we’ll pay for it. God doesn’t want us to live like this. In the first nine verses of Luke chapter 16 Jesus commends shrewd financial management. We should all desire such commendation.

Another good rule is to go shopping twice. Shop for Christmas gifts, write down where you found it and for what price, along with whom it is intended for but don’t buy it then and there. Once you have your list complete look for better prices on the items you need to buy. Also, think of a creative gift that may meet the same need but not cost nearly as much. Is it something you can make for less money? Is it something you can purchase for less elsewhere? Is it something you can buy later at a better price? Children don’t understand not getting gifts on Christmas, but adults can appreciate the stress of the season. So ask those closest to you if you could give their gifts after Christmas, and take advantage of the post-holiday bargains. While you are shopping the after-sales, go ahead and pick up a few gifts for next Christmas if your bank account allows for it.

These steps may sound elementary, but living them out can be difficult. As difficult as keeping a sharp eye on your money can be, however, doing so makes it easier to honor God with your finances. The New Testament has a lot to say about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables Jesus told were about how to handle money and possessions. In the four Gospels, one out of ten verses (288 in all) are concerned with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses about faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

We believers are fond of telling others that Jesus is the reason for the season, so let us be consistent by honoring Jesus during the season with our finances.