As many
people are currently on holiday/recently returned from holiday/wishing
they were on holiday/planning their next holiday, it got me thinking
about how easy it is for holidays to become an idol that we worship
instead of Jesus.
- We
think a holiday is going to solve all our problems. If your family are
at each other's throats, a bit of time together away from the normal
routines may well help. But, by itself, a holiday wont address the root
issues of that conflict. You are not in conflict with your wife and
children just because you need a break, the conflict exists because our selfish
hearts sin against each other. The holiday could provide time to think, talk and pray through the issues, but by itself, it is not the solution.
- Because
we can think the holiday is the answer to our problems, we make
sacrifices for it - saving up money throughout the rest of the year for
it, having to cut back on other things to make
sure it happens.We prepare for it - studying the destinations or
attractions, reading the reviews, buying new clothes. We evangelise
about it - talking about it before and after it happens. Pray that God would
captivate our hearts so that we talk about him as much as we do about
our holiday. If you are willing to make sacrifices of time, and money
for a holiday, why not look at those same things to invest in your
relationship with God.
- We can start to worship the holiday. The thought of it gets you through the long days at work. We think that we are better, happier people on holiday, you are really you when you're on holiday. In reality you're a better, happier person with Jesus.
You're really you with Jesus. You need Jesus.
Holidays are good. Take one. But holidays are not God. Worship Jesus instead of committing holidolatry
Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
For that we need Jesus
