Summer is here! We knew it would be because scripture tells us, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22). We love summer. School is out, it’s vacation time, warmer weather, days longer and a more relaxed attitude encompasses us. Back in 1963 Nat King Cole recorded “Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer” and has been popular for many years. One of the lines in that song goes, “Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, You’ll wish that summer could always be here.” I like summer because I like warm weather. However, there are some things of which we need to be reminded.
ONE IS WATCH YOUR DRESS. Paul admonishes “…That women adorn themselves in modest apparel…” (1 Tim. 2:9). Men need to do the same. We live in a casual world. It is a shame to see the scant clothing worn by women in the summer time. It creeps into the church as well and folks come to the services dressed in shorts and tank tops.
TWO IS WATCH YOUR ATTENDANCE. We are instructed to not forsake the assemblies (except in the summer). That is not what scripture teaches. The Bible admonishes, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). Find a congregation in the area where you are vacationing and go to Bible school and worship. Often time’s members of the church forsake the assembly of the local congregation because they become so involved in other activities. Every Christian needs the strength that comes from worshipping on the Lord’s Day. Summer is a good time to bring your children to Bible class on Wednesday night. School is out and the days are longer. Children don’t have to get up for school (However, I never could understand the parents who keep their children home in the winter because of school. I have never known a child to fail school because of that extra 1 ½ hours spent at the services on Wednesday night.)
THREE IS WATCH YOUR CONTRIBUTION. Of course your attitude has a lot to do with your giving. If you give out of necessity then you feel relieved when you don’t have to give because you are away on vacation. Do you plan your giving for the year (2 Cor. 9:7)? Do you make it up when you return from vacation? Do you put the Lord first (Mt. 6:33)?
Summer is a great time to prepare. The atmosphere is more relaxed, we think a little bit differently so why not use the summer as a time to rejuvenate yourself in spiritual matters. “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer…” (Prov. 30:25).
Larry