Christmas may be “the most wonderful time of the year” but it’s also one of the most expensive times of the year. One report estimates that an average household will spend almost $2500 this season on festive food, decorations, and gifts. But even beyond the financial cost, Christmas also can carry a relational cost with family tensions and social divisions being exacerbated. There can be an emotional expense with the season sparking loneliness, sadness, and grief. Finally, the holiday can take a chronological toll, jamming calendars with events, parties, and other time-filling, energy-stealing happenings. 

There’s no doubt that Christmas can be costly. It always has been, ever since the very first Christmas when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” But it’s not just the birth of Christ that’s pricey. Following Christ is expensive as well. The question becomes, are these prices worth paying?