Advent and Money

My wife is a selective Oprah watcher. It depends on who's on and if the topic is edifying for her. This is Oprah's last year. Like Larry King, she is moving on from her daily TV show. She does a show every year around Christmas titled her "favorite things" show, in which she highlights new products she likes and then, in a stunning act of generosity, gives each audience member everything she's featured on her show. This was the last year for this show and she went out with a bang. Audience members got cars and vacation packages this year. The audience, by the way, never knows if it is the "favorite things" audience. They are told a different show theme and surprised. This year, when Oprah surprised the audience by letting them know they were the ones, they broke out in ecstatic joy. I've never seen anything like it. I was in another room. Shannon was cycling through recorded Oprahs to erase or watch and let the beginning of this one play. I had to see what this sound was. People were screaming through tearful smiles, jumping up and down, and rolling on the ground. Some had their hands thrust straight up in the air, obviously praising God. Others were hugging, laughing, holding their heads in their hands, or applauding wildly.

I was taken aback. I immediately realized that I had never seen this kind of wild joy in any church. I do not object to the TV show, the generous and powerfully famous host, the excellent products, or even the happiness people felt. It was the comparison that got me. Jesus never once, as far as we know, saw people respond to him this completely. The crowds and their reactions were always mixed. Only some were joyful. It's the same today. Oprah was giving wonderful material things and had no detractors. Jesus was giving abundant, eternal life through Himself and had countless detractors.

There is nothing wrong with material things or money. There is something wrong with us. We don't get it. We joyfully settle for less. Christ offers us Heaven and we tend to suppress a yawn while nodding our heads. What we really want is a new purse. Give us this and we will dance. Advent interrupts this DNA embedded tendency we all have. The arrival of Christ calls us to wake up from our spiritual slumber. It gives us new reasons for eternal joy. Isn't that how the song goes? Joy to the world...

PRAYER: Lord, renew our values and perspective by way of Your Advent. Material blessings, including the blessing of health, are wonderful and temporary. You offer far more. Give us the faith and heart to receive You. Teach us to rejoice in the higher gifts that come from Your hand as well as to enjoy the tangible provision of the day. You are the ultimate gift. You are our "favorite thing." We want to praise You; help us with our lack of praise this Advent. Amen.

TOMORROW: Advent and Music