Southwest Airlines is credited with making today a special day and giving us a national day to celebrate. In 1996, Southwest coined and trademarked the phrase “Wanna Get Away®” as an advertising slogan. To celebrate the airline’s 50th anniversary in 2021, they created National Wanna Get Away Day as a reminder that in America, we have the wonderful freedom to travel wherever we want in this great land of ours. Airlines as well as passenger ships have made global travel possible.
Vacation season is definitely upon us, and many have made plans to travel somewhere – anywhere – just to get away and relax. Many daycations will be taken, enjoying shorter travel distances but more frequent adventures. And there’s nothing wrong with a staycation. A few days off of work will allow you to do some shopping, nap in your own hammock, read a few books, and simply relax at home.
Whatever a vacation looks like for you, enjoy it and get some rest.
Is it wrong to take time for yourself? Are vacations just self-indulgent, pampering pleasure trips revealing the dark, hedonistic side of our flesh? What a way to ruin the summer trip, huh? Well, do not despair! We are not doing anything wrong by taking vacations and getting away for a while.
Obviously, a vacation is not supposed to be an opportunity to go somewhere where
nobody knows us so that we can “get away” with doing things we shouldn’t; ie. hitting up a casino, going to a nightclub, watching some filthy show, etc. What happens in _________ stays in _______ is not the Christian’s motto! A vacation is never an opportunity to do wrong! So, to help us out, maybe we could establish some criteria from the Bible.
In Genesis 2:2-3, we read, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” This weekly period of rest was a part of the Israelites instructions. So, can we say that our vacation rests us or does it exhaust us because we’ve crammed too many things into it?
Another aspect to consider is Ecclesiastes 3:13. “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” Hard work is a good thing. God created us to be working individuals. Part of a vacation is enjoying the good of our labors. Did you enjoy the vacation? Was the destination enjoyable? Did you have a good time bonding with friends and family?
Finally, did we vacation with fiscal responsibility? Many will spend foolishly to go to exquisite and exotic places, vacationing beyond their means. Proverbs 10:15 warns, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.” There’s nothing wrong with going to far away places provided you have saved and finance the trip responsibly. To vacation above our means is to destroy ourselves with that which was supposed to be refreshing.
Ultimately, we have grace and liberty that allows us to choose how we spend our vacations. So long as we are not violating any Biblical principles, the decision of whether or not to vacation or where to spend that vacation time is between us and God. So, my wish for each of you is that you are able to take some time off and enjoy doing something restful, relaxing, and responsible. Have fun!
Romans 14:5 gives us this final reminder. “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
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