What do you do after Christmas? (I mean besides paying bills and trying to lose weight!). The post-holiday season can be a letdown for many people. The excitement and merriment are past. Get-togethers with family and friends are over. The prospect of facing another year might be discouraging. There are many reasons why a person’s mental and emotional health might be at risk after Christmas. So, what can we do about it? Let’s look at the Scripture for some ideas.

In Matthew 2:1-12 we read about the wise men’s visit to the Christ child. Our long-held traditions have the wise men arriving at the manger where the baby Jesus was first placed. However, the Bible says that by the time they found him, Jesus and Mary were living in a house. They didn’t get to meet the Christ child until after Christmas.

The first thing we notice about the wise men is that they looked for Jesus so they could worship him (1:2). It has been said that wise people still seek him. Many people find their way to church on the Sunday before Christmas. Getting there on the Sunday after Christmas might be a different story! Seeking Jesus among his people seems like a logical thing to do. Seeking him in prayer and Bible study are great ideas also. After Christmas, remember to keep seeking Jesus.

After finding him, the wise men worshipped Jesus just as they had planned. Their worship included presenting him with expensive gifts—gold, frankincense and myrrh—gifts fit for a king (1:11). Hopefully, after Christmas you will have something to bring to Jesus. Many are satisfied with giving token gifts to the one they call their savior. Others, following the example of the wise men, give generous, or even extravagant gifts. Jesus says, “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). If you want to feel blessed, give a large donation to your church, or find some other way to present Jesus with an expensive gift.

Finally, the wise men listened to God and took a different way home than the route they had planned to take. Many people get on the wrong road in life because they stop listening to God. Don’t make that mistake! Read your Bible. Pay attention to sermons and Bible lessons. Listen to your Christian friends who give you godly advice. Listening to God will keep you on the straight and narrow highway and help you avoid sin and the pain that accompanies it.

To sum this up, after Christmas you should live a worshipful life by seeking Jesus, being generous and listening to God. All of this will help you to have a great new year!