When thanksgiving day becomes a season of the idolatry for material things instead of spiritual
When a Day of Thanks Becomes a Season of Materialism
Hello there! Welcome back to Spiritual Podcast, your podcast for authentic Bible truth teachings. I’m Elder Dan, your host. This podcast episode is a short one but very crucial for people to know, so keep listening and you will learn why. You are tuning in just as the annual whirlwind is about to hit; that chaotic, consumerist, yet strangely traditional time of year in the United States of America. Yes, I’m talking about the subtle yet unholy pairing of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.
Look, I get it. Many people love a great holiday feast and a good deal, right? But let’s take a step back and really look at what these days are, especially through a spiritual lens.
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They Are Not Holy Days
Here’s the thing: You can search the Holy Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single mention of a national Thanksgiving holiday or a Black Friday shopping spree. These are entirely man-made customs and traditions. They are cultural observances, not divinely appointed holy days.
The Bible does prescribe feasts and holy convocations for Israel that other nations must follow, like Passover and the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, but those were specific to a perpetual sacred covenant. The modern holidays? They’re simply not on the list of things Yahweh requires people to observe for righteous faith. And yes, we enjoy our family time and that pumpkin pie, but we need to keep a clear distinction in our minds. Yes, do not ever confuse an American civic holiday with a biblical command.
The Problem With a One-Day Thank You
The true spiritual challenge of Thanksgiving Day is not the turkey; it is the idea that we can contain our gratitude for Yahweh into one Thursday in November. We wake up, we pause, we say thanks, we eat too much, and then… we move on.
But listen to what the Apostle Paul tells the church in Thessalonica. He makes it crystal clear that thankfulness is not an annual event; it’s a perpetual posture:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of Yahweh in Messiah Yahshua for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Did you catch those words? Always. Without ceasing. In all circumstances. That’s a 24/7, 365-day mandate. We are not called to be thankful once a year for a few hours. Yahweh’s will is that our lives overflow with gratitude because we have received His “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Our praise should not be a sacrifice we make once a year when the weather gets cold and the leaves change. It should be the fruit of our lips that we offer continually, as the writer of Hebrews urges us:
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to Yahweh, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” (Hebrews13:15).
From Gratitude to Greed
Now, let us talk about the sharp turn we take just hours later, a turn that makes the superficiality of a one-day thanks painfully obvious: Black Friday.
It is literally a contest for many to possess more stuff. People flip the switch from expressing gratitude for what Yahweh has given them; the food, the family, the salvation; to a frantic drive for material gain. They swap the attitude of thankfulness for the spirit of materialism.
This is not about the idolatry of shopping or finding a deal, but about the heart. The Bible speaks sternly against this kind of materialism, because it distracts us from what truly matters. We are commanded to be content. As Paul wrote to Timothy:
“But holiness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” (1 Timothy 6:6 -7).
When we see the aggressive, often unpleasant, consumerism of Black Friday, we have to ask ourselves: are we truly living a life that reflects the “great gain” of holiness, or are we chasing the temporary, fading ‘gain’ of a discounted TV?
Our Call to Action: Live a Life of Constant Thanks
So, what should we do?
First, Acknowledge the Source: Recognize that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17). Everything we have—your family, your health, your job, your very breath—it all comes from Him.
Second, Make it Perpetual: Move beyond the holiday. Commit right now to cultivate a heart that gives thanks every day, in all circumstances. This is where the real peace of Messiah Yahshua rules our hearts. (Colossians 3:15).
Third, Prioritize People Over Possessions: Do not let the temporary noise of materialism drown out the value of relationships. Spend your time, energy, and resources investing in what matters eternally: loving Yahweh and Yahshua, and loving people.
Yes, you do not need a special calendar date to stop and thank the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of humanity! Make today, and every single day that follows, a day of true and genuine thanksgiving.
Friends, if you’d like to continue this conversation or share your thoughts on this topic, leave a comment below or reach out to me directly. You are also welcome to peruse our previous episodes on this website and visit our sister website by clicking here to read and learn more genuine truths from the Bible.
Thank you for tuning in, folks. Until next time, keep your heart perpetually grateful to Creator Yahweh and Yahshua the Savior!
And to our beloved brothers and sisters of the same faith out there: Before I leave, let me pray this prayer for you: May Yahweh bless you and keep you; may Yahweh make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. I very humbly pray all these things to Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah, our Master and coming King, amen. Kindly keep praying for the shalom of Israel. Take care. Halleluyah!
