Really? I saw a commercial on or around October 15th and the opening line was the holidays are here.
There were Christmas trees and decorations along with gift boxes. I know I’m old-fashioned, but it still
seems strange to me to hear someone make the claim that the holidays are here halfway through
October.
Do you remember the days when no one began to talk about Christmas until after Thanksgiving?
Commercialism and consumerism have advanced to a point where I suppose I understand the modern
way. After all, is there really anything at stake?
Well, for the believer the risk is to be lured into the things of the world before the spirit of Christmas
is ever acknowledged. We can just go through the secular motions. We can simply commit ourselves
to keeping up with the masses.
There does exist some tension here. If we don’t prepare until it’s very close to Christmas we won’t
get it all done. And as I have said, if we start too early, we yield to the secular masses.
There may be another option though. There are two ways to put God first. We can put God first
numerically, but we can also put God first relationally. Of course, numerically means God comes first
in order and other things are secondary. Relationally has to do with putting God first in all that we do.
We do everything in His name. Our work, our play, our shopping is all done in His name.
So, I encourage you to shop, decorate and prepare for Christmas in the name of Christ, always keep
Him first in your heart and mind. To that end, it doesn’t matter how early you start.
Pastor Gary
