Take Time to Get pleasure from God’s Blessings This Christmas
By Laura Bailey
Bible Studying
“An individual can do nothing higher than to eat and drink and discover satisfaction in their very own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for with out him, who can eat or discover enjoyment?” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 NIV
“Are you getting my calendar invitations?” I requested my husband over dinner.
“Which one? The one in regards to the Christmas play in school? Or the Sunday Faculty Vacation potluck? How might I miss the a number of invites to rejoice Christmas with our households, pals, and folks we barely know?” My husband’s voice was playful, however I nonetheless sensed his aggravation over our packed calendar.
It’s a recurring disagreement in our family; I take pleasure in a calendar stuffed with actions, internet hosting folks, and hustle and bustle, whereas my husband prefers a extra relaxed schedule of occasions, i.e., sitting in his pajamas watching a Christmas film with simply our household. Each methods of celebrating Christmas have their drawbacks and perks.
My over-scheduling can lead our household to emotions of exhaustion and a want to only “get via Christmas” to allow them to have an opportunity to chill out. But, on the flip aspect, by internet hosting occasions at our house, we’ve had the chance to share the love of Jesus with others and invite folks to have a seat on the desk who didn’t have anybody to share the vacation. If our household engaged in Christmas the way in which my husband prefers, we’d usually miss out on supporting our pals of their performs, attending church occasions, and celebrating time with household. Nonetheless, it’s good to relaxation and easily benefit from the present of one another’s presence with out always interested by the following occasion on the calendar.
This stress of realizing when to take motion and when to relaxation is usually addressed within the pages of Scripture. The Bible is replete with invites to the weary to return to Jesus for relaxation (Matthew 11:28) and to abide in Christ (John 15:14). Conversely, Scripture expenses us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and to benefit from each alternative as a result of the times are brief (Ephesians 5:15-16). So then, what’s the reply? Can we go and do, or keep and linger this vacation season?
Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 provides perception into how we must always strategy Christmas time. He writes, “An individual can do nothing higher than to eat and drink and discover satisfaction in their very own toil. This, too, I see, is from the hand of God, for with out him, who can eat or discover enjoyment?” For somebody whose vacation plans contain lots of consuming, I’m grateful that Solomon encourages us to take pleasure in our meals! And all God’s kids mentioned, “Amen!”
All jokes apart, Solomon, in these verses, reminds us to take pleasure in life’s blessings: meals, fellowship, and a job effectively performed. Even in a fallen world the place the proof of sin is prevalent, we nonetheless expertise presents from a most gracious and loving Father. I like to think about these blessings as “glimmers of Heaven,” glimpses of the ample, extravagant life these in Christ will expertise for all eternity.
Solomon doesn’t encourage us to desert our obligations, forgo our obligations, and even say no to issues we take pleasure in doing. As an alternative, he attracts our consideration to the truth that God is sovereign over every part. Even our skill to seek out enjoyment on this life comes from the Lord.
So, nonetheless, you rejoice this season, cling to the reality that God’s grace and mercy allow us to expertise eternity within the right here and now. May I counsel, as our household has come to observe, a mix of participation within the vacation, making certain we’ve ample time for relaxation and leisure, and giving the Lord all of the glory and honor as a result of He alone is worthy.
Intersecting Religion & Life:
Take into consideration your vacation plans. Do you are likely to lean extra in direction of filling the calendar with “all of the issues?” Or maybe you usually tend to hold a transparent schedule? In gentle of Solomon’s phrases in Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, how may the Lord name you to regulate your plans this Christmas season so as to totally take pleasure in and share the blessings from the Lord with others?
Additional Studying:
John 15:4
Ephesians 5:15-16
Photograph Credit score: ©GettyImages/maximkabb
She lives in Upstate South Carolina together with her husband and three younger women, the place she serves as director of girls’s ministries at her church. Her ardour is educating the Bible to girls, equipping them to dwell with an everlasting perspective. Invite Laura to talk at your subsequent occasion or be taught extra: www.LauraRBailey.com
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