© 2019 Don Pinson | [Download]
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Recently, I read a magazine article which so illustrates the thinking of our day. The subject was what might be called the “Sunday sads”. I used to get it in the pit of my stomach when I was a small boy; Sunday evenings this sadness would creep over me because I had to go to school the next day. Playtime was over. The feeling said, “Back to the old grind, boy; fun’s over!” But in this article, I couldn’t help noticing how much the so-called, “Sunday sads”, illustrate the humanistic thinking of our day.
First the article identified the symptoms of this experience. They spoke of how, as Sunday evening draws nearer, feelings of regret for good or bad done that day start descending like a black cloud. Then there’s the fear of what this coming week might hold; in other words, worry. It can all make for a sad Sunday evening.
But when reasons for this and solutions for it were put forth, not one person interviewed even mentioned the Bible, and its purpose for Sunday; or the purpose for work, which the Bible teaches. Only selfish, man-centered ideas were put forth. One person suggested, to avoid the “Sunday sads,” you should plan a low-keyed, fun event at home on Sunday night. One believed you should start Monday very early in the morning so as to be able to do your tasks leisurely, without pressure. A psychiatrist was a firm believer in making a list to avoid too much stress. One suggested using some time Sunday afternoon to contact someone you love; another mentioned visiting a homeless shelter.
As I considered these “cures” for the so-called “Sunday sads”, what was glaringly obvious was that not one person even mentioned using Sunday to meet with the Lord and His church in the regularly scheduled meetings there. And while there might be some merit to each of the humanistic things suggested, they were like spokes in a wheel that was missing the hub. It is impossible for a wheel to do what it was created to do without the hub. The hub in the wheel of life is God and His truth expressed in living form in Jesus Christ, His Son! Leave Him out of life, and you’ve got a broken, not-functional, non-fulfilling life. Jesus said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)
I experienced the real solution to the “Sunday sads” when I was first born-again as an eleven-year-old boy. If I missed church to play ball my day flew by. I never had enough time. But if I went to church in the morning, I always seemed to have more time to play ball in just the afternoons on Sunday. When I was obedient to God, there was always much more satisfaction in my playing even though I played a much smaller amount of time. His Word had taught me in Hebrews 10:25 to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together…” When I was obedient to be in our church’s meetings, everything else I did on Sunday was much better. I would learn later that it’s all part of the Biblical principle of Lordship stated in Matthew 6:33—
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.”
If we fully surrender to Christ, receive Him as our Savior—and keep walking with Him as our “moment to moment” Master—all the peace, all the provision, all the protection which we desperately seek for, is automatically added to us! And this will, indeed, take care of the “Sunday sads!”
Is Jesus your life? Or do you fight with the “Sunday sads”?
Think about it; because if you don’t, someone else will do your thinking for you—and for your children! And you won’t like what that brings to you. I’m Don Pinson; this has been Think About It.