Sliding into Summer

By Steve Patton

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 1).

Warm weather is here, school is almost out for the summer, vacations are planned and Disney/Universal/SeaWorld/Busch Gardens are calling you to come.  Summer can be a busy time for us all.  It is a blessing to have times to do things with family and friends that summer affords.  There will be a lot of traveling, vacationing and just plain old taking it easy for many.  We often enter a little different mindset during the summer months and that can be nice.  However, it can be a time where we begin to let spiritual responsibilities and values slip a little.  Yet faithful service to the Lord is not a seasonal practice.  It is a year round 24/7 matter.  Do you let some things “slip” during the summer?

Attendance – Worship attendance patterns change for some.  Suddenly the Lord’s Day is not as important.  Sure it is harder to find a place to worship while on the road but you made the choice to be traveling.  Shouldn’t you make the effort to find where the brethren worship and honor your Lord on every Lord’s Day.  And don’t let you attendance at home slip either just because the weather is nice or you have other things you would like to do.  Assembling with the saints is important to us all.

Contribution – For some reason the average giving decreases during the summer.  I have seen this pattern for years.  I have never really understood that.  Do people work less during the summer?  Are they not paid the same during the summer months?  I certainly hope it is not because they are taking their contribution to pay for vacations and other extras.  Surely you value your giving to the Lord as highly as you do you house payment or car payment.  I’m pretty sure you are not decreasing those during the summer.

Appearance and Dress – Florida weather always presents the temptation to dress immodestly but summer weather and travel certainly increases the temptation.  The scriptures are clear about the responsibility to dress as one professing godliness, whose clothing says you are “modest and discreet” (1 Tim. 2:9).  Being in Florida or on vacation does not excuse this responsibility.

Make summer a time of spiritual strengthening, not one where the Lord is pushed into second place.  We serve our Lord Christ every day of our lives, including when on vacation.

Saturday May 19 2012