Biblical “Better to Give than to Receive” Explains Black Friday Burnout
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The busiest shopping and gift-giving season is upon us and about to slip into overdrive. But is anyone else feeling the Black Friday burnout? Do we need all of this stuff …even if it’s a “Doorbuster?” All this stuff can’t satisfy us …but now what?
Admit it: Black Friday and Cyber Monday give the appeal of being fun. Stellar deals, must-have items, and exclusive offers. According to Capital One, it’s estimated that “American consumers spend over $10 billion shopping online on Black Friday; with the addition of in-store spending, U.S. retail revenue exceeds $20 billion.” Just look at these stats:
* Black Friday 2024 e-commerce increased 10.2%.* The average shopper spends $650 from Black Friday to Cyber Monday.
* 87.3 million Americans shopped online for Black Friday last year.
* 66.9% of Thanksgiving Weekend shoppers make purchases on Black Friday.
It’s the busiest shopping season, but when it slips into overdrive, are the deals worth it? Tons of steals and doorbusters knock on our doors, and we’re tempted to buy even if we don’t need them. When our own propensity to crave more leaves us feeling less than, God reminds us that it is far better to give than to receive.
The Cultural Cycle of More
Why does Black Friday exhaust us? As a child, I loved nothing more than the thrill and chase of a good deal. The older I grew, however, I realized that it was just stuff. I wasn’t excited about buying items, but who I was spending my time and energy on.
As 2025 turns into 2026, expectations seem to grow: bigger gifts, better sales, and holiday perfection. Amid the frenzy, 9 in 10 Americans (87%) feel financially stressed (KNDU), 41% struggle to maintain their budget (AICPA), and over a quarter spend more than they make (Investopedia). Why budget and save when you can put it on a card and pay later?
Sadly, the more society buys into the belief that more is better, the more spiritually depleted we become. According to Medium, we’re all becoming bankrupt, “not of a monetary nature, but a spiritual one. The circumstances of [our] lives have sucked [us] dry without a means of replenishing [our] savings and caused [us] to overdraft [our] spiritual bank accounts.” So, we’ve established a problem, but what’s the solution?
The Bible’s Reorientation
In Scripture, Jesus flips these ideals upside down. It’s better to give than to receive. It’s better to be poor than to be rich. Paul even recites Jesus’ beatitudes in Acts 20:35: “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (NIV).
Compared to culture, this sounds crazy. How in the world is it better to give than to receive? To be poor instead of rich? But at the crux of Christianity is a way of life that builds on the joy, community, and contentment that come from a life of giving oneself away. Jesus flips the script because it’s what we need to live our best lives.
Receiving, when expected or excessive, can create spiritual numbness, but giving out gives itself every single time. Desiring God describes it this way: by giving, know that God will outgive you, God gives treasures that will not fail, and your Heavenly Father will reward you. When faced with the opportunity to give, think of Christian love.