Yes, the Bible does caution us against taking on too much debt (particularly when we don’t have the resources to repay it). One reason is because indebtedness easily overwhelms us and becomes our master; as the Bible says, “The borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

Have you ever asked yourself why you can’t control your spending, particularly this time of year? One reason may be because you don’t plan ahead as carefully as you should. Instead of going into the mall and buying whatever comes to mind as you shop, plan in advance how much you can afford to spend. Then write down the name of every person on your gift list, and decide how much out of your total budget you’ll spend on them. In other words, set a budget in advance and then stick with it.

In addition, avoid wrong motives in your giving. For example, some people buy gifts they can’t afford because they’re trying to impress people, or because they feel guilty if they don’t give large gifts. Don’t let this happen to you.

Ask God to help you spend wisely, and to choose gifts that are both thoughtful and within your budget. Most of all, make Jesus the center of your life this Christmas. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin in death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).