“Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies.”
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I believe the name is accurate, though with retailers, the bottom line is on their mind. I find the meaning to be likened to the hearts of men that have allowed their hearts to become black with the stain of sin. Greed, materialism, hurting others, cursing, name calling, vandalism, and in some cases I have heard of vandalizing cars and hair pulling. All are in full view before cameras that have come to film this modern-day Roman spectacle. Police and ambulances standing by. How utterly embarrassing, and definitely not for Christians to engage in.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Scripture warns us repeatedly about the dangers of covetousness. Covetousness is defined as “a strong desire to have that which belongs to another.” The Tenth Commandment about covetousness is given in Scripture under the Old Testament. (Exodus 20:17). Nine of those Ten Commandments were brought over into the New Testament, though not all in the same place at the same time. Covetousness is warned against repeatedly in the New Testament.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your heart: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:13-15
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
Exodus 20:17
No sooner than the prayer said, the turkey and pie eaten, than the race to the store begins. Some have been known to camp out for hours on Thanksgiving evening in the bitter cold just to get that TV, computer, I-Pod, tablet, doll, etc. Once the doors are open, it is chaos, and among this chaos Scripture is forgotten. How can you love your fellowman, when you are endangering his life for a “thing?” People wild eyed with greed, placing the lives of others on the altar of materialism.
“Covetousness is both the beginning and the end of the devil’s alphabet – the first vice in corrupt nature that moves, and the last which dies.” ~ Montaigne
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
“He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.” Proverbs 15:27
Covetousness in its full display, and ugliness comes out in full force on Black Friday, to get, and get, and get, in an effort they believe will satisfy their empty souls. A longing for what they believe will make them happy, costs a little less, or is free to the first one in the door. ….and as the crowd surges its way through the doors, trampling over anyone and everyone, including children, endangering all around them, as well as employees of the stores, all barriers, physical and spiritual are torn asunder. All for the sake of one more material possession, that will soon be forgotten when the shine wears off, for most “things” just glitter and shine. Material possessions, though they make a person happy for a very brief amount of time, will not satisfy the soul, for only He can fill the soul.
“And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15
“For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid my face, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.” Isaiah 57:17
As Christians, let us not be caught up in such events as the world entices us to be involved in, but remember what Christ taught us in Scripture.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
“The world had caught him, pleasure, covetousness, idleness, and finally also that vice he had always despised and scorned as the most foolish acquisitiveness. Property, possessions and riches had also finally trapped him. They were no longer a game and a toy. They had become a chain and a burden.”
Eileen Light