3 Things Not To Do This Summer

It may not technically be summer yet, but school is out so for all intents and purposes summer is here. Summer is a time of excitement, both for kids and adults. Vacations are in full swing, boats are being uncovered for the first time in months, sports are raging, and the winter weather is being replaced by warmth and sunshine. Summer holds a lot of anticipation for a lot of people – things to do, places to go, and people to meet. But summer also carries with it its own unique set of temptations. So while I hope you have a fun filled, family oriented, memory-filling summer; there’s a few things I hope you don’t do.

This summer, don’t excuse immodesty. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true – when the temperatures go up, the hemlines go up and the necklines go down. Women eagerly trade in their winter clothes for short shorts, barely there shirts, and practically nothing there swimsuits; while men proudly parade around in no shirt at all. Somehow we, as a society, have come to assume that weather, location, or activity somehow changes the dynamic on what is appropriate to cover/not cover our bodies. I’m particularly disturbed by the number of Christians who proudly flaunt their summer pictures all over social media looking absolutely no different than the worldly people around them. God must weep at such indifference. Men and women both should be concerned with adorning themselves in modest apparel (1 Timothy 2:9) as befitting a person separated from the world and dedicated to God. Don’t let the allure of the summer heat and the trends of fashion cause you to excuse immodesty. Instead let’s adorn ourselves “in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4).

This summer, don’t forget about God. It’s amazing to me how some people’s church attendance habits drastically change during the summer. People who normally wouldn’t think about skipping Bible class or worship go on vacation, go to the lake, or have a ball tournament weekend and all of a sudden God apparently isn’t as big of a priority anymore. Sleeping in, spending extra time on the beach or amusement park, or trying to catch the big one out on the lake suddenly is an acceptable alternative to worshipping God.   It doesn’t matter whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall – God still expects us to make our time spent together with God’s people and with Him a priority (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25). If it is not a priority at any point of the year it is an indictment on our relationship with God year round.

This summer, don’t neglect your soul. I love summer as much as the next person, but it is terribly busy. Traveling, ball games, yard work, backyard barbecues, normal year round responsibilities, and yes, even church activities (VBSs, youth series, church camp, etc.). In the midst of it all it can really easy to assume there’s just no time left for personal time with God (Bible study, prayer, etc.). But even when He was busiest, Jesus would take the time to leave everything behind and go to spend time with the Father (Luke 5:15-16). Our need to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus surpasses most everything else that is going on in our lives (2 Peter 3:18). We cannot afford to get so busy that we make no time for God and in the process neglect the health of our souls.

I know very few people who don’t anticipate summer. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, everybody loves the warmer weather, the longer days, and everything that’s associated with the summer months. But in the midst of everything you do this summer, please don’t fall prey to these dangerous and eternally devastating habits.

-Andy