We live in a gritty, dirty, dark world. Colossians 1:13 says that in Jesus God has defeated the dominions of darkness and brought us into Jesus’ kingdom of light. The problem is that we still live in a dark world. How do we overcome the darkness? Better yet, how do we keep from being overcome by the darkness? The solution is not religion. It’s not spiritualism or mysticism. It’s not moralism or rules. Those are solutions that come out of a world that is already in darkness. We need a solution that comes from above, not below.

Today’s message touches on a great area of darkness for many. Spiritual confusion. What is God expecting of me? How can I live a pure life, and avoid sin? How do I overcome my sinful nature? How can I live in a way that pleases God? And here’s the biggie: how can I get off the treadmill of trying to please other people? The anxiety of living a performance-based life just to please others is overwhelming.

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Millions of us did. Resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, change a personality trait, develop a good habit, be a happier person, go deeper spiritually. Resolutions and decisions to change are usually driven by a sense that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. Resolutions often come out of pain and suffering. In this section of Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colossae, he shares how he has resolved to suffer for the cause of the gospel so that everyone could know the mysterious, revolutionary joy of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Joseph was a righteous man, an esteemed member of Israel’s tzadiqim. Faced with the choice between his reputation and obeying God, Joseph learned that Christmas came with a cost.

There are all sorts of images of who Jesus is. Someone has said that God created man in his own image, and man returned the favor. What is your image/concept of this baby who was born in a stable in Bethlehem? Jesus asked His disciple that question once. “What about you? Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15) This is the most crucial question we face. No other religious, spiritual, or philosophical influencer ever said, “You’re opinion of me will affect your eternal destiny.” It’s all about Jesus.

Becoming a Christian can be like coming downstairs on Christmas morning and seeing a beautifully decorated tree stuffed with presents under its branches. You’ve already received eternal life and know that you will receive many other good gifts from God. But how disappointing would it be if, as you opened those presents, you found that all the packages were empty? For many of us, daily Christian living seems empty because there is no sense of God’s presence in our lives. We long to please God and live in a way that honors Jesus, but how can we when we don’t understand His will? In these verses, we learn how we can enjoy God’s perfectly pleasing presence!

At Christmas, we sometimes become aware of how small and broken down things are in our lives. Financial resources may seem small. Our decorations may look small compared to the neighbors. Our heart might feel small when we don’t have the feelings of good-will or generosity towards others, or a closeness to God that we know we ought to have. Paul’s letter to the new church in the small town of Colossae reminds us that God’s good news of the gospel comes to small places and fills them with joy!

Time is one of the most precious resources that we have, and yet it is one of the most neglected areas of management. Most people live with little or no margin in their time. As we pursue Godly priorities, He will lead us into a place of margin.

Today we’re going to look at finances, and specifically, how to find financial margin. The closer you live to the limit of what you make, the less margin you will have and the more tension you feel. We weren’t meant to live on 100% of what we make. God, in His wisdom and love, intends for us to have margin.

Poor management of our time and resources costs you and I personally. This is why Jesus devoted one-fourth of His parables to how we manage our belongings – our money, our abilities, and our time. Two management experiences that we usually don’t find enjoyable are going to work and giving away our hard-earned money. By following the guidance of Scripture, you can learn how to make money, give it away, and enjoy both.