The Christmas season is upon us. For there to be so much to celebrate, December often becomes the most stressful time of the year. People run here and there trying to beat the clock to get the sales, complete their shopping lists, and get their decorations up. You have to wonder just how far we have removed ourselves from the real spirit of Christmas by getting sucked into all of the hustle bustle around the holidays. It’s a documented fact that as we move into the winter months a lot of people get sick with colds and flues. A lot of it has to do with the fact that our resistance is down and our immune system is trying to work overtime. The cold and pain relief aisles in stores are usually full this time of the year. How much pain do we bring on ourselves? I heard last week that a new study revealed that during the Christmas season people lose and average of 3 hours of sleep per week because of the hectic schedules they keep. With that as an average, you know that many people lose even more than that. That eventually takes a toll on the body. What exactly causes the pain and how can get relief? That’s going to be the basis for a series of messages I’m going to share this month simply entitled Holiday Pain Relief. Today we’re going to look at back pains and see the need we have for relief from stress.
When we get stressed over the holidays, a lot of experiences we have that should be fun and enjoyable become a pain in the back. Just like a lot of the other myths about Christmas that we perpetuate, it’s a myth that if we ignore our pain it will go away. Does that really happen at any other time of the year? Why should we expect it to be so at Christmas? Pain doesn’t just go away. You have to deal with it. Another myth specifically related to stress is that other people “stress me out.” You can push the blame anywhere you want for the stress you feel around the holidays – on other people, on your budget, on your work schedule, on your lack of money, on your kids, on your spouse, on your in-laws, on the crowded stores, on the traffic, etc. Other people, things, or situations are not the cause of your stress. It’s your response to those people, things, or situations that brings on the stress. So, who’s really to blame for the pain?
I want us to look together in Matthew 2 this morning at a familiar passage that is shared around Christmas. It’s the account of the magi, or wise men, who visit the Christ child. Though it’s a familiar passage, I don’t want you to miss the contrasting responses to the holidays that we see in it. Let’s stand and read verses 1-12. Did you notice someone who was stressed out over the holidays in this passage? Who was it? Herod. Look at verse 3 again.
“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3). Now, old King Herod was a mean ol’ soul, and a mean ol’ soul was he. Modern scholars typically agree that Herod suffered from depression and paranoia throughout his life. He always felt that someone was out to get him –to usurp his throne. As a result, his stress level no doubt increased. He suffered from the proverbial back pains brought on by stress because he was always looking over his shoulder to see who was ready to stab him. Who was to blame for his stress? He was.
I want us to go a little deeper here this morning, though. Let’s get to the heart of the matter. What really causes a stressful life? What really caused Herod’s stress and what causes ours? Though centuries separate us, I think you’ll see a parallel – if you’ll be honest. The bottom line is that stress is caused by our rebellion to God – when we put others things above the one true King. That’s what really got Herod down. Let’s consider some of the signs that Herod was “stressed out over the holidays.” The first sign is that he was disturbed by the truth.
“Disturbed by the truth.” The magi, or wise men, came seeking the “king of the Jews” in v. 2. What was Herod’s response when he heard that? Verse 3 says he was what? Disturbed. Why was he so disturbed? Because he held the title of the person the magi were looking for – king – yet they weren’t looking for him. Herod knew that the Jews already resented him as a Gentile King, if you will, as the Jews did not accept Rome’s right to choose their king for them. Of course, what happened in Jerusalem when Herod became disturbed? Everyone else followed suit! The Jews knew his tendencies to have people killed when he felt threatened. They probably thought, “Oh no, who’s next?” They knew when Herod wasn’t happy, no one was happy. So, Herod was disturbed by the truth of the message the magi had brought with them – there was a new king in town who would reign in an everlasting kingdom.
How about in your life – are you disturbed by the truth? When you look in to the Word of God, do you see all of your blemishes and shortcomings? We are all sinners and deserve nothing but death and separation from a holy God. How does that make you feel? Disturbed or stressed out? Does it make you want to strike back at God – like Herod did? Here’s what brings on a lot of our holiday pain and stress … we struggle with who’s ruling our lives. We just can’t wait to be king! We don’t want to be told what to do, but rather tell others what to do. We want to be served, instead of serving others. What a major difference between the reigns of Herod and Jesus – who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).
The truth is that life is not all about you! We are all disturbed by the truth to some degree. John 3:19-21 says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Be honest with yourself and the Lord today. Are you experiencing pain? Are you stressed out? Is the truth disturbing you? Come and let the truth set you free (John 8:32). A second sign that Herod was stressed out is that he was deceptive about his intentions.
“Deceptive about his intentions.” Look at what the king said in verse 8. “As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” Let’s take a little vote – how many of you think Herod was telling the truth there? He had no intentions of worshiping someone who might usurp his throne. His later actions indicate his true intentions all along, don’t they? How often do we find ourselves faced with the truth and wanting to hide? When you’re in the darkness you’re repulsed by the light. You find yourself on the slippery slope of one sin leading to another as deception leads you further and further away from God. The pain and stress build up, and you keep pointing fingers at someone else to blame. This is a scary place to find yourself because of what the Bible says in John 8:44. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Sin leads in that downward spiral. God doesn’t want to leave you where you are in the dark. He wants to lead you to the light of truth – just as the magi were led by the light of the star to the truth in the flesh – Jesus! Herod brought stress upon himself by being deceptive about his intentions –but also by being destructive in his tendencies.
“Destructive in his tendencies.” Instead of trying to build up the lives of others, Herod destroyed them. Consider verse 16: “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” He couldn’t stand the thought of someone else being king. His destructive tendencies led to the same end – death (v. 19). Galatians 6:8 adds, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Paul added in Philippians 3:18-19, “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.”
Herod’s legacy was primarily an architectural one – having built great theaters, amphitheaters, monuments, altars, fortresses, and other buildings. He was also known for having the temple rebuilt. Jesus didn’t come to establish an earthly legacy, though. He didn’t come to build buildings, but to build lives. Herod is just a footnote in history; Jesus is the cornerstone of history! There’s only one way to stop the destructive tendencies of sin in your life. Move from the darkness of your life to the light of Christ. The magi were wise men to do just that. When they saw the star from the east, they were compelled to go toward it. The light was an invitation letting them know that God was ready to share a wonderful gift with them. They had to accept the invitation, though. Herod could not bring himself to do that. How about you? It’s sad to think how we increase our back pains of stress by shutting Jesus out of our lives. Like the innkeeper on that first Christmas, we’re telling the Lord we have no room for Him. We shut him out by lacking faith in his promises.
“By lacking faith in his promises” I wonder if we forget the Lord’s promises because we so often fail to keep our own? Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We also shut Jesus our by being critical toward others.
“By being critical toward others.” It’s difficult to see the Lord’s promises fulfilled or to acknowledge his blessings when you have a critical spirit. A critical attitude really leads us to stop worshiping God and to isolate ourselves from a savior who wants to have fellowship with us. Ephesians 4:29 urges us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” We also shut Jesus out by focusing more time, energy, and money on earthly things than on spiritual things.
“By focusing more time, energy, and money on earthly things than on spiritual things.” With all of the focus around Christmas on buying and getting, it makes you wonder just what or whom has become our god? Any person, possession, or purpose other than Jesus and serving him becomes an idol. We are not to conform any longer to the pattern of the world but rather we’re to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That way we can discern the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2).
So, how much pain are you in as the Christmas season begins? Are you already down in the back because of stress? Remember, the pain wont; go away on its own. You can point fingers at others all day long, blaming them for your stress. But, you really have no one to blame but yourself. Therefore, no one can bring you to God’s altar before a great, healing Savior like Jesus but yourself. Will you come and receive him today?
