By: Dr. Jeff Fuller
In just a few short days, the shopping fever will turn up a notch as shoppers flock to stores for some trivial item on sale, that they desire to place under the Christmas tree for some family member who is very hard to buy anything for and so hard to satisfy. This will be a Black Friday as none have ever seen before, with traffic lined up, nerves frayed, and…
Never-mind, we are under COVID restrictions, right? If so, then it will be a very different Black Friday for some who normally tear down the doors to get inside at just the right time to glean some item they have their mind and heart set on.
With the pandemic in mind, a great deal of Black Friday deals will be bought online. From the laptop, while slurping coffee in pajamas and fuzzy slippers, individuals will be buying items to make up for their lack of being able to go “in-person” to the big box stores.
The imagine of shoppers in recliners, wearing pajamas with fuzzy slippers, slurping coffee is one which has become quite normal with all the “online” offerings. Really, with the pandemic we have online church, online concerts, online ballgames, online movies, online staff meetings, online training…everything we once dressed up to attend is now online.
Sorry, I digress…
We were talking about shopping and Black Friday, right? Shoppers who are trying to find the right item, at the right price. Sellers tempting individuals to part with their hard-earned cash. A day when everyone goes crazy…
Most of these shoppers do not realize shopping is biblical. That’s right. Read the verse and consider the application:
“She selects wool and flax and works with willing hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from far away. She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and portions for her female servants. She evaluates a field and buys it; she plants a vineyard with her earnings. She draws on her strength and reveals that her arms are strong. She sees that her profits are good, and her lamp never goes out at night.” Proverbs 31:13-18 (HCSB)
These verses are used by my wife when buying or selling to women. Yes, these verses say the lady of the house is mindful of meeting the needs of the family, caring for her husband, providing for the well-being of all within her house. The wool, flax, and vineyard allow her to clothe, feed, and provide for her family. Solomon, who wrote these words, introduced this section with:
“Who can find a capable wife? She is far more precious than jewels.” Proverbs 31:10 (HCSB)
Tina is very open and vocal, convincing individuals in purchasing something she might have for sale. I’ve said, “Tina could sell fleas to a dog.” When she is dealing with arguments of someone who might really want an item she has for sale, but there may be concern by the individual in relation to what the husband may think, she uses these verse from Proverbs.
This is especially true to another lady in the town. Tina will always remind this sweet woman of these verses. Yet, I will remind them both that I have developed a 13 Step Program called Shoppers Addiction Awareness (SAA) and the recovery group I am attempting to make a reality: Shoppers Addiction Awareness Recovery (SAA-r).
As with all recovery groups, the steps are simple and straightforward:
Step 1-The need to buy is strong.
Step 2-Justification of purchase is faulty.
Step 3-Extreme measures will be taken to purchase.
Step 4-Outright truth must be told regarding purchases.
Step 5-Step 4 will lead to pride.
Step 6-Confession will be required for steps 4 and 5.
Step 7-All need this item purchased.
Step 8-The purchase price must be negotiable.
Step 9-If you can’t beat them, join them.
Step 10-Recovery is found in purchase.
Step 11-Recovery is found in multiplication.
Step 12-Recovery is found in profits.
Step 13-Shopping is biblical.
Yet, after reviewing these steps, I may not be as much concerned about recovery as I am with purchasing items. Especially items Tina is selling.
Until next time…
(Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of Rockford Baptist Church. You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at rbccoosa@gmail.com)