Live Responsibly
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Read - (2 1/2 minutes)
“And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.” (Luke 2:3-4)
Passage: Romans 13:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Joseph, like every other Jew in Israel, probably did not like paying taxes, but he didn’t try to avoid the trip to Bethlehem. He went because he had faith that God was in control and he was a responsible man. Responsibility is having the right response to situations and circumstances in life. Joseph showed responsibility by obeying the law of the land. He showed responsibility by working hard as a carpenter to earn a living and take care of his family. He showed responsibility by living within his means, even when those means were meager.
Christmas is a high stress time for many people in the world. One description I read said, “Christmas is the time when people buy this year’s gifts with next year’s money.” Satan wants people to be burdened by debt, but God has a better way. It is to learn contentment and to live within ones means. The deepest experience of Christmas doesn’t come from going into debt. It comes from celebrating the gift of Jesus and conveying His love in your home. Live responsibly and enjoy Christmas in your home.
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