Black Friday

             I trust you survived “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving.  The original name of “Black Friday” was used by the police, bus drivers and taxi drivers in Philadelphia to describe the traffic congestion in downtown Philadelphia as shoppers flooded in on the day after Thanksgiving.  In more recent years the name has been used to mean the day on which retailers moved into the “black” in annual revenues.

            This traditional beginning of the Christmas shopping season can be a “Black Friday” for many in another sense.  Many see Christmas as a reason for spending.  We want to bless each other, our families and especially our children and grandchildren with material gifts.  Plastic allows us to buy for them things for which we don’t have the money, and puts many into a “black hole” of debt.

            I certainly do not oppose spending and gift giving at Christmas.  These are part of the celebration of Christ’s birth and enhance the season for all, especially children.  But I would remind us that Christians particularly have a responsibility to manage our finances in an exemplary way.  This is part of the overall concept of stewardship.  We all want things.  I have often been blessed on receiving or purchasing something that I really desired.  But we must be careful to keep our desires in bounds. We are reminded in 1 Timothy 6:8-9, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

          And the truth is we can be happy with less. Contentment does not come from things, it comes from a right relationship with God and resting in His assurances.

Grace and peace.