By Isaac Errett
As the calendar page flips to November, the time of year that we traditionally describe as the “Holiday Season” has come upon us. During these months, our attention often turns to family gatherings, celebrations, feasts, travel, time away from work, the giving and receiving of gifts, and more. With this in mind, Christian Standard would like to offer what its founding editor, Isaac Errett (1820-1888), described as a “kindly word of warning in [this] time.” As such, we offer here Errett’s 1883 essay, “Lesson for the Holidays,” with a few minor updates and edits for the sake of clarification and ease of reading.
Festive occasions have their own temptations and dangers. It is said of Job that after his children had passed through a season of festivities, he “sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5, King James Version). In the exuberance of merriment that characterizes the holiday season, there is always danger, more or less, of being swept into excesses. Young Christians, especially, need to be on their guard.
“Forewarned is forearmed”—therefore we drop this kindly word of warning in time. Go not near the wine-cup, nor suffer even the daintiest hand of woman to bring it near to you. Be particular about your associates. Avoid the ballroom and all scenes of revelry. Keep down all selfishness in arranging your plans for a happy time, or the close of the festive season may find you more capable of meanness than at its opening.
Remember that while you are blessed with a happy home and many friends, and unnumbered comforts, there are multitudes who are homeless and friendless, sick and suffering, poverty-stricken and desolate. Perhaps some of these are in your own neighborhood. Seek them out. Leave no scene of sorrow or distress uncheered with the light of Christian sympathy and kindness. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house; clothe the naked and hide not thyself from thine own flesh; “then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall bring up the rear” (Isa. 58:7-8). Then indeed will thy heart be merry, and the richness of its joy will not fail.
We surely have no objection to gatherings of friends for festive enjoyment. There is need for the free play of every legitimate influence that will strengthen family ties and bind neighbors in social relations. But there is a kind of feast described in Luke 14:12-14, which, it strikes us, might be made truly enjoyable. It is true that, in our country, there is not the same need for it as in our Lord’s time in Palestine. Yet even now, in our own happy land, and especially in our large cities, there are multitudes of deserving poor and innocent unfortunates to whom such a feast would be a joyous inspiration for months and years to come. To be to our fellows what Christ would be, were he here, should be our supreme desire.
About the only joy that abides permanently with us in this life is that which springs from doing good to others; for not even the joy of fellowship with God abides, unless it bears fruit in godlike mercy and compassion. Make bright this season, therefore, with deeds of kindness and love, and you shall be thankful at Thanksgiving, enjoy a merry Christmas, and embark upon a happy New Year.
Isaac Errett (1820-1888) was the founding editor of Christian Standard, serving in that position from 1866 until his death in 1888.
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