SCRIP-BITS

1 Timothy 6:7.     For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Eight days and counting Friends, to that momentous day when Christ our Saviour was born! And all God’s people sang out: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ And I have to chuckle, because the Holy Spirit pulled another fast one on me. Three days ago, I had no intention of counting down the days to Christmas, but in searching for an intro it just occurred to me – or so I thought – that there were ten days left to the big day, and I simply mentioned it. However the Spirit obviously had other ideas, and last night I was made aware that there were nine days left, and I mentioned it. Then suddenly the light went on: ‘Oh, I was being led to countdown the days to Christmas, for whatever purpose!’ Ah Friends, just another instance showing that our great God moves in mysterious ways which are much too high for our comprehension. I guess we’ll eventually find out why He wants us to count them down. Anyway mih people, today is Friday, and I can hear you all chomping at the bit to chant our Friday Chant. So without further ado, Friends, let’s chant: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ And having said all of that Friends, please don’t go and kill out yourselves with a set of shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning, wrapping gifts, and all the hundred and one things we think we need to do before Christmas Day. For when the big day finally comes, you’ll be too tired and burnt out to enjoy it in the true spirit in which it was meant to be enjoyed. Oh Friends, Christmas has become so secular and worldly things oriented that we’ve forgotten the true reason for the season; the Birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the only Son that our God sent to die and pay for our sins with His innocent, holy life. That’s the true purpose for the season! But things are so bad, that some of us have never even learned it, and consider all the hullabaloo about gifts, holidays, eating and drinking as what it’s all about. These days, very few of us actually take time to sit down quietly and reflect on the great occasion, so taken up are we with the things surrounding it. But Friends, as Bruh Paul so rightly reminded Timothy: ‘For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.’ So please, let’s stop focusing on the things of this world, and instead focus on Jesus nuh, for He is the reason for the season. Without His Birth, there would be no holidays in December. And do me a favour; the next time anybody wishes you Happy Holidays, please ask them what holidays they’re talking about, and why is December such a joyous holiday season? And if they can’t give you the right answer, or try to tell you some nansi story, please let them know in no uncertain terms that it’s the celebration of Christ’s Birth, and the right greeting should be Merry Christmas, highlighting the fact that that’s the cause for the yearly celebration, and is not just a time for greedy business people to make more money, or simply a time to eat drink and be merry. Oh mih people, it’s high time we put Christ back into Christmas, and not let all the other ancillary activities draw our focus away from Him, for it’s the first of the Big Four occasions He introduced that saved our sinful souls. We’re talking about Jesus’ Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension, without which we’d all be certainly following Beelzebub to Hades at the end times. And all God’s people joyfully sang: ‘Praise to the Lamb, who redeemed our sinful souls and reconciled us to the Father!’ Ah mih people, it’s a sad but true fact that the world, including many of us believers, are now more focused on worldly things than on spiritual matters. But just to remind us of the fallacy of that negative direction, let’s listen to some scripture that proves otherwise. First up is the father of all patience, Job, just after he found out the sudden misfortune that had befallen him. ‘Then Job arose and rent (tore) his mantle (robe), and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:20-21)  Losing his family and all his possessions was obviously a hard blow to accept, but thankfully Job realized that earthly stuff was not the end all and be all of life, but the God of his fathers’ was. I pray that many more of us would come to that wise conclusion since it would make all our lives so much easier and happier. Unfortunately though, we spend too much time wanting and hungering after worldly things and not enough hungering after God. Now hear the psalmist as he directs us to trust in God, not in wealth. ‘Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.’ (Ps.49:16-17) We see it happen everyday Friends, yet we still do all manner of evil things to build up earthly wealth. When are we going to understand the futility of living to amass earthly wealth eh? Cousin Sol also warns of this foolish attitude, and he should know having been recognized as the wisest and richest man who ever lived, but who could find no higher purpose on earth than to serve and worship God. ‘There is a sore (severe) evil which I have seen under the sun, namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail (misfortune): and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.’ (Eccl.5:13-15) Oh Friends, I’m imploring us, especially this Christmas season, when the things of the world are uppermost in our minds and hearts, please, let’s no go overboard, let’s take a moderate view, refrain from the tempting glitz and glamour, and instead put some of that effort into concentrating on the real reason for the season; the Birth of Jesus Christ. However we cut up the pie, it’s only when His serving is the largest, that our lives will be filled with peace, LOVE, joy and hope! And isn’t that what we’re all about? Much LOVE!…happy holidays is bland and meaningless…but Merry Christmas…is what the season’s all about…