Preacher’s Point: Holiday or all the days?

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Have you ever wondered if we had no holidays would people be in debt? I know that is an exaggeration; however, just think about the money we spend on holidays that we would not spend if that day were not a special event on the calendar.

Many families pull out the credit cards every year to pay for Christmas.

Some households will spend more on the Thanksgiving Day meal than they do for an entire month’s of groceries during the rest of the year.

Odds are most the majority of witch outfits hanging in women’s closets across the country would not be there if Oct. 31 were not Halloween; not to mention all the money spent on candy, yard decorations, and parties.

With apologies to the firecracker industry, but I know people who spend hundreds of dollars on producing a firecracker performance in their back yard on the Fourth of July that does not spend a penny on firecrackers the rest of the year.

I do not drink, so I have never understood this but, some people will spend more money on alcohol for New Year’s Eve than the remainder of the year combined.

Here we are currently in the middle of February, and I have seen commercials for flowers, giant teddy bears, lingerie, vacation getaways, edible flower arrangements, perfume, jewelry, and the list goes on. The thought may not be said but is eluded to, that the only way to show your love is to buy something for your Valentine. Side note to the guys – when your wife or girlfriend says, “I am trying to lose weight so don’t get me any candy for Valentine’s Day.” That is not a green light to come home with a beautifully wrapped box of weight loss pills.

By now you are probably thinking, “OK Preacher we get the point. We spend money we would not usually spend around the holidays, and often spend money we do not have.”

Well, honestly, I have other motives here. I will be sending this to newspapers on Monday morning Feb. 13. I know that it will not hit the newsstands until after Valentine’s Day. I did this for a reason. I am not trying to get you to rethink your holiday shopping habits nor am I trying to write about Valentine’s Day. I am trying to get you to think about all the other days of the year.

Why is your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend deserving of special treatment Feb. 14 and not on the 15, or June 22, or April 17, or Oct. 4?

If you are thinking I am insinuating you should bring flowers, or candy, or some gift home every day, you are missing the point.

Love does involve giving, but it is not the giving of flowers, or candy, or even weight loss pills. Contrary to popular opinion; the opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is selfishness.

The Bible tells us, “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16). The world’s most famous verse gives us the definition of love, “For God so loved the world that he gave …” (John 3:16). When we love someone we give ourselves to them. To give yourself to someone you can not be selfish.

When it comes to married couples how can you tell there is selfishness in the relationship? If you have not caught it already since selfishness is the opposite of love if there are signs of selfishness there is an indication of a lack of love.

When the words, “his,” “hers,” “mine” are frequently used.

“He always wants to spend my money.” “She always wants to use my car.” Phrases like this tell us there are things in life that a couple has not given over to each other. If a man has to think twice or hesitate about which he would not want to live without, his wife or his truck, one must question his level of love for his spouse.

When we love we will give our time; we will go to places we do not particularly care for only because our spouse wants us to come along and we want to make them happy.

When both husband and wife seek the enjoyment of the other instead of being self-satisfied the relationship will shine and grow into fulfillment for both; this outlook on love works in the bedroom, kitchen, garage, bank, and every area of life.

Give gifts for the holidays, but stay away from the gift wrapped weight loss pills. However, far more important than that, give yourself every day.

By Timothy Johnson

Preacher’s Point

Preacher Johnson is pastor of Countryside Baptist Church in Parke County Indiana. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.preacherjohnson.com. E-book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TUJTV2A If you email, inform me where you have seen Preacher’s Point. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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