Do You Have the Christmas Spirit?

When we think of the carelessly-used phrase, "Christmas spirit," I imagine that most of us think of a reformed Scrooge. We think of someone who loves the holidays, someone who is cheery, full of Christmas carols, smiles, and candy canes. But that's not exactly an appropriate definition for a Christian. For a Christian, the Christmas spirit is something different. See how J.I. Packer explains it:

We talk glibly of the "Christmas spirit," rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity on a family basis. But what we have said makes it clear the phrase should in fact carry a tremendous weight of meaning. It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakes became poor at the first Christmas And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round. ...

The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor - spending and being spent - to enrich their fellow men, giving time, trouble, care, and concern, to do good to others - and not just their own friends - in whatever way there seems need. There are not as many who show this spirit as there should be. If God in mercy revives us, one of the things he will do will be to work of this spirit in our hearts and lives.

-- J.I. Packer, "For Your Sakes He Became Poor" in Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ed. by Nancy Guthrie, pp. 71-72