Holiday Suffering or Holiday Cheer?
When the apostle Paul wrote by inspiration to the church at Corinth, he sadly had to discipline them concerning their improper observance of the Lord’s Supper. In 1 Corinthians 11:17 he begins such a discussion by saying, “Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.” They had been commanded to come together by the Lord, but they were dishonoring the feast. You see, it is entirely possible for us to assemble for all of the right reasons while doing all of the wrong things. If this were to be the case, it would be better for not to assemble at all.
With this in mind, I think about the coming of the holiday season. There will be more “coming together” in the next two months than during any other time of year. Whether they be family gatherings, office parties, or joining with friends, there will be a great deal of assembling. I think in the midst of all of it, we might want to remember why we are going to be gathering in the first place.
Hopefully, we won’t be gathering out of a sense of obligation. Usually about mid-November I start hearing the horror stories of families who are dealing with dreadful turmoil anticipating the “well we have to do this so let’s get it over with” holiday season. What’s the point? Are we really accomplishing anything running to 5 or 6 different places just trying to make sure nobody is offended? Are we really going to force false holiday greetings when there has been no desire to reconcile problems and conflicts in a meaningful way for perhaps years at a time? If we are coming together let’s do it because everyone wants to. How does God feel when people decide to visit His house because they feel obligated?
Hopefully, we won’t be gathering out of a sense of social or vocational pressure. How many Christians will attend office gatherings and other social holiday parties where things will be going on that they completely disagree with from a moral standpoint? Is our desire for popularity or our hope to move up the business ladder worth sacrificing what we believe? Will we subject ourselves to problems and temptations and say that we are doing this all in the name of Jesus? If you make a decision to attend any questionable social event, are you naïve enough to think that your influence and your Christian walk will go forward unaffected? Again, how does God feel when His blood-bought people choose to cash in their eternal inheritance by refusing to be separated from the world?
Hopefully, we won’t be gathering out of a sense of materialism. Christmastime can become the perfect monetary storm that delivers a family to financial ruin if they are not careful. The constant pressure from society to buy and buy and buy some more is a relentless wave of deception that will eventually bring us and our bank account to our knees. And what for? Does the health of our relationships with family and friends hinge upon how much money we are foolishly spending? Are we really so enamored with the physical world that our happiness depends on how many gifts were given and or received on December 25th? Will God be pleased with people who are possessed with possessions more than they are with the spiritual and eternal blessings He has freely given to us all?
Paul told the Corinthians in essence that they were ruining the most wonderful time of the week because their priorities and activities were completely out of control! In the same way, what we often call “the most wonderful time of the year” can become the most terrible time of the year if we forget why we are coming together. We need to be dedicated to the principle of gathering for the better and not for the worse. If we assemble, let’s do it to bless one another and let’s gather to the glory of God!
“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” – Psalm 89:7
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