Michelle Singletary and her husband decided to reduce their Christmas spending. They made some presents themselves and thought of creative ways to give their time and service to others.

In her newspaper column on personal finance, Michelle summarized her purpose in taking a hard look at her spending: "Building and maintaining relationships—what really matters over the holidays and throughout the year—are priorities that shouldn't get crowded out by our conspicuous consumption."

Deciding to spend less money at Christmas is a personal choice. But if relationships are high on our list of priorities, we could resolve to give more by giving ourselves away. Isaiah described the kind of spiritual sacrifice that pleases God as one of serving others. "If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday" (Isaiah 58:10).

Jesus our Savior, whose birth we celebrate, said of Himself, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

As we observe Christmas this year, let's give more by giving ourselves away.
  — David C. McCasland