Hebrews 13:5-6 “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.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Thankfulness is akin to contentment.  A thankful spirit provokes satisfaction with the things that we have, and resists restlessness that always requires more.

These simple principles demonstrate the most duplicitous back-to-back days on the American calendar – Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  The former is intended to display thankfulness for what we have.  The latter is designed to enable a reckless dissatisfaction with what we have by prompting us to greedily grasp for more.  The former is intended to be a peaceful day with friends and family reflecting upon our current blessings.  The latter is intended to be a frenzied day trampling strangers to satisfy our most selfish urges.  The former is intended to focus on God’s blessings with a satisfied spirit.  The latter is intended to focus on selfish desires with a dissatisfied spirit.  The former is intended to be about contentment.  The latter is intended to be about discontentment.  The former reinforces Christian principles heading into a season that celebrates the birth of our Saviour.  The latter reveals the antithesis of Christian principles and is at cross-purposes with Christ’s message.  The former is a fitting celebration for a Christian.  The latter is a disquieting reminder of the secular celebration that Christmas has become in America.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD ENTER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH A SPIRIT OF CONTENTMENT.  God has blessed us greatly.  We should be satisfied with His gifts, and content with such things as we have.