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All right, welcome to a uh Christmas edition of the Daily Blade. We are the week before Christmas, and I want you to win at Christmas. That's right. I want you to be a winner this Christmas. It's not about the lights, it's not about the present, it's not even about the traditions. And oftentimes Christmas can be one of the hardest times in people's lives. And I think there's a bunch of traps in this world that the enemy sets that cause us to really lose at Christmas. So I'm going to give you five ways, one for each day of this week, for you to win at Christmas. Number one, if you want to win this year at Christmas, spend wisely. That's right. Do not overspend. Do not get caught up in the trap that this world is trying to bait you with. First Timothy chapter six, verse six says this But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Skip down to verse 17. Paul tells Timothy, As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. All right, here's ten ways to make sure that you are spending in a godly way this Christmas season, based directly on this text. Number one, answer this question. Are you content? Because you will not find your contentment in stuff. Let me ask you another question. This Christmas season, are you teaching your children contentment or consumerism? Listen, presents are fine as long as you don't put your hope in them. Don't make it all about the stuff. Number two, be grateful for what you do have instead of focusing all of your time, effort, and attention on what you don't have. We'll talk about more of that on a coming up day. Number three, you have to understand that stuff is a snare, that money is a trick, that money is a trap. That we live in a world that spends billions of dollars a day to get you to buy that thing thinking that it will do for you what it cannot do for you. Don't buy into the trap. Number four, let me ask you this question based on the text. Do you love money? Because the Bible says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Jesus says that money is the number one competitor of the heart. And oftentimes, Christmas and how much we spend on things exposes this. Number five, Paul says, as for the rich in this present age, and you may think, you may think, well, I'm not rich. You probably are rich. If your combined annual household income is over$35,000 a year, then you're in the top 2% of wage earners on the planet. That means this is for you. So if you are rich, then number six, don't be haughty. Don't think the reason that you have all that you have is because of you, but it is a blood bought grace gift from God. So be grateful. Number seven, enjoy it. He says, as for the rich in this present age, that we that God gives us everything to enjoy. So enjoy it. Get you some presents. But the only way that you can do this is if your finances are rightly ordered. That means the first and the best does not go to you, that you bring the first and best to God because he first loved us by giving us his best. In other words, don't use stolen money, money that belongs to the Lord, to buy some stuff for people to impress them. Number eight, don't just buy stuff, but the Bible says, but be rich in good works. What are you doing this Christmas season to not just buy stuff, but to be rich in good works? Volunteer at your local church, volunteer through some local ministries, do some good things for people. That's going to help you win at Christmas. Number nine, be generous. Be generous. You need plan, priority, percentage, progressive giving. That what you do with your money leads and directs where your heart goes. And Jesus says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Are you being rich towards God with your money this Christmas, or are you just being rich towards you? And then 10, here's the payoff. It says that you will find life that is truly life. That true life is not in found in presents and traditions and lights and parties, that true life is only found in Jesus Christ. Come back tomorrow and I'll give you another tip on how to win this Christmas.

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