What Christmas Cost Christ

After Christmas, we count the cost
Of meals and gifts and wrapping;
Find ourselves surprised,
Caught in a sense napping.
How could we have spent so much?
We ask ourselves, aghast,
Given that most will not last.
We sing carols, of course,
Read apt Scripture passages,
Clean up after opening presents,
Not usually considering
What Christmas cost Christ.
Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbling Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (2:5-8).