Black Friday

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)

This year’s mad-house day of shopping was filled with more crazy events perpetrated by people who have way more dollars than they have sense (pun intended). I am sure most of you heard about the lady who pepper sprayed her fellow shoppers arguing over some item they were all trying to buy. Then there were the fights in the parking lots over those who were cutting the line at 3am trying to get ahead of the others. Of course, the worst one was a couple of years ago at a WalMart in New York when an employee was trampled to death, and yet the shoppers all went about their business as if nothing happened, and then actually got mad when the Police closed the store temporarily to deal with the tragedy. It just makes you wonder sometimes what is going on in the hearts and minds of the populace.

I know they call it “Black Friday” because it is the time of the year when the retailers finally get “in the black” for their yearly budgets. But I am beginning to think there is another undertone of the name to signify the “darkness” that befalls some of our fellow humanoids on this dirt ball on that day. Maybe they should call it “Green Friday” in honor of the cash. But the name has been around long enough now that it has stuck. But every time I hear the term “Black Friday”, I can’t help but think of the spiritual darkness that is often connected to the pursuit of things. Of course, whenever a preacher starts on one of his rants about materialism, it often results in the hearers tuning him out. They think he is advocating that we all live in a tent and eat dirt just so we can all be right with God. Christianity is not a vow of poverty. God takes care of his children. The Bible tells us that God “…giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” (I Timothy 6:17) Jesus said he came to give us life (eternal) and abundant life (temporal) in John 10:10. There are many exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, a believer in Christ can expect a life filled with blessings and provisions from his benevolent Father in heaven. The problem is that we expect them in the temporal realm first, with no thought for the “spiritual blessings in heavenly places” that are far more valuable (Ephesians 1:3).

As we approach yet another holiday season, we will see another attempt by man to satisfy himself with the stuff of this world. Within reason, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is a sin not to enjoy the things God gives you. We go out of our way to provide for our children during this time of the year, and that is important. They need to know that we love them. You cannot buy your children’s love, and they need you more than they need your things. At the same time, just saying you love them at Christmas without backing it up with a couple of toys would ring rather hollow in their ears. It is a difficult balance. But think about the gifts you received 10 years ago. At the time, you thought they were just perfect. You said, “Oh, thank you! It is just what I needed!” Today, virtually every one of those gifts rests in a landfill.

You have certainly heard the line, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” That statement should be modified to say, “He who dies with the most toys is still dead.” Where will he be in eternity? Do your loved ones know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and not just as the little baby in the manger? It is their decision, and you cannot force it on anyone, but have you told them? Have you lived your life as close to the book as possible so that they do not have justification for rejecting Christ based on your testimony? This year’s Christmas gifts will not last. God, the Bible, and the souls of men are the only things that will last for eternity. Go ahead and invest in the things that this season moves us to do, but make your real investments in the things that will outlast all of them. Give the gift of life to a lost world through our Lord Jesus Christ.