Idols

A few weeks ago I started a part time seasonal job at a nationwide retailer to help make ends meet. This past Friday was what is know as "Black Friday", the day after Thanksgiving, the official start to the Christmas season. To get a jump on the competition the store opened at 10pm on Thanksgiving night. People started lining up before 6pm to make sure that were able to get the items that were on sale. The weather was very cold and rainy, not the best conditions to be waiting in line, but most of them took it with a grain of salt. The night went very smoothly, no major problems, and I think for the most part everyone who stood in line got what they wanted.

When I analyze what happened that night I see idolatry all over this. Now don't get me wrong, I think there isn't anything wrong with saving money and getting a good deal when you can, but something doesn't seem right with this picture.

Money is obviously the principle factor. The store marketing department decided that they could make more money if they opened 2 hours before anyone else. The customers decided to stand in the cold and rain to save money on the products they wanted to give as Christmas gifts. This is just basic economics I understand that but, when does thriftiness become mania? The next culprit are the gifts themselves, the hottest items of the year. A few years ago it was Tickle Me Elmo. Everyone had to have this little guy for their child. There is a limited supply of these items, which adds to the stigma, and not everybody is going to get one, sometimes people actually fight over them. So when does a gift become a object of a skirmish? And lastly there is perceived happiness. The retailer makes projections based on past history and market trends and they set goals based on those predictions. If they meet or surpass these goals they are happy with the sale and business is good, but tomorrow has it's own set of goals and the happiness is short lived. For the consumer there are 2 sides to this, making the loved one happy with the perfect gift and the self gratification of getting the best deal in town on the gift. The problem is that the gift will lose it's novelty within a short period of time and the gratification only lasts for a day or two. When does" happiness" become mundane?

What would happen today if we looked at ourselves and found the idols in our lives? What would happen today if we set these idols aside and concentrated on the One loves us? What would happen today if we sought true happiness through our Savior? What would happen today if we gave the gift of love to those around us?

What would happen today...?

1 Samuel 12:20-22 (NIV, ©2010)

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.

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