Black Friday and the Perils of Materialism: A Biblical Perspective
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their craving for it, some have wandered away from their faith and pierced themselves with many a pang." - 1 Timothy 6:10
The term "Black Friday" has a complex history with multiple origins. The earliest known use of the term dates back to the 1869s. It was used to describe a financial crisis that occurred on Friday, September 24, 1869. Two notorious Wall Street financiers, Jay Gould and Jim Fisk, attempted to corner the gold market, causing the market to crash and bankrupting many investors.
In the 1950s, the term "Black Friday" was used to describe the day after Thanksgiving in Philadelphia. This was due to the chaos and congestion that occurred as large numbers of shoppers and tourists flocked to the city to take advantage of post-Thanksgiving sales and attend the Army-Navy football game, which was traditionally held on that Saturday.
The term "Black Friday" was not widely used outside of Philadelphia until the 1980s, when retailers began to use it to promote their post-Thanksgiving sales. Today, the term is synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving and has been considered the official start of the holiday shopping season in the United States. (Oddly, “Black Friday” seems to have started late last week, which makes sense since Costco and other stores started the Christmas season in the middle of summer.)
Despite the negative origins of the term, Black Friday has become a major shopping event in the United States. Stores offer huge discounts, and people flock to them in droves to take advantage of these deals.
The Dangers of Materialism
As Christians, we are called to be different. The way we approach materialism should be different too. We are called to live a life that is not focused on material possessions but on spiritual riches. In 1 Timothy 6:10, the Bible warns us that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." This means that our desire for material possessions can lead us down a destructive path. It can lead us to make choices that are harmful to ourselves and others.
There are many dangers associated with materialism. Here are a few of them:
Materialism can lead to dissatisfaction. No matter how much we have, we always want more. This can lead to a constant sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
Materialism can lead to envy and jealousy. When we see others who have more than us, it can be easy to become envious and jealous. This can lead to bitterness and resentment.
Materialism can lead to debt and financial hardship. When we focus on acquiring material possessions, we can easily get into debt. This can lead to financial hardship and stress.
Materialism can lead to spiritual emptiness. No matter how much we have, it will never satisfy our deepest needs. We were created to have a relationship with God, and nothing else can fill that void.
A Better Way
As Christians, we are called to live a life that is different from the world. We are called to focus on our spiritual riches rather than our material possessions.
Here are a few things we can do to combat materialism:
Be content with what we have. God has given us everything we need. We should be grateful for what we have instead of always focusing on what we don't have.
Focus on giving rather than receiving. When we focus on giving to others, it takes our minds off of ourselves and our own needs.
Remember that our true riches are in heaven. Our earthly possessions will not last forever. But our relationship with God will last for eternity.
There is nothing wrong with picking up a few deals today. Be careful though! Black Friday can be a day of temptation. But we can choose to resist temptation and live a life that is focused on God. By following the Bible's teachings, we can avoid the perils of materialism and find true happiness and fulfillment.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” -1 Timothy 6:17–19
With You;
Pastor Tim
