Holiday
period is the time of rest from profession, academic and extra-curricular
activities in workplace and school. Purposeful spending of holiday therefore
implies a useful or properly co-ordinated way of spending the holiday.
The
holiday period should be properly and maximally utilized to the gain of the
worker or student. Some people, however, see it as times to play around, travel,
visit friends, have fun, and engage themselves in unproductive activities.
Whatever result you have is a product of your input. If you spend your time
well, you shall get a good result (Proverbs 6: 6-8). For Jacob, the visit to
Laban was supposed to be a period to be free from the threat of his brother,
Esau. He, however, turned the period to lay a very solid foundation for his
future and destiny (Genesis 27:41- 45; 28: 20 -22; 29:15). Unfortunately, for
Dinah, she chose to use her free period for purposeless and aimless visitation,
the result was defilement for her, death for several people and even
devastation of a whole city. How we need to learn to productively utilize the
period afforded us by holiday (Genesis 34: 1-7).
An idle hand,
they say, is the devil’s workshop. That is why it is important and necessary to
do something useful at this time. Furthermore, personal development through
acquisition of skills during the holiday period will make you unique and
outstanding among others. This is very good period to also undertake useful
training that can bring immediate gain and also make you a better person in the
future. It is also a time when Christians should build better relationships
with God, unsaved individual should re-examine their ways and turn to the Lord
and backsliders get restored (Joshua 1: 8; Matthew 6: 33; Isaiah 55: 7). Invest
your time during holiday wisely and secure a better future for yourself.
(Psalms 20: 1-5).
What are specific productive activities
individuals can engage in during the holiday?
i.
Short
vocational training in Cooking/Catering, Interior Decoration, Barbing, Computer
knowledge and application; GSM Repair, Candle making, Soap making, Paint
Making/ Mending, packaging of Food items, Printing, Rewiring, computer repair,
Foundry, Sign writing, Small Scale Farming, Trading, etc.
ii.
Taking
care of your deficiencies in certain subject
iii.
Developing
your spiritual life and character through reading and prayers
iv.
Training
in musical instruments
v.
Attending
church planned activities during the holiday including Bible School, Coaching
classes/Skill acquisition, Success Camp and Miracle Programme.
It is
unfortunately therefore that most time, what you get is a result of what you
put in as you cannot sow evil and reap good. There are several unproductive
activities some individuals use their holiday period for:
i.
Purposeless
and aimless visitation and sight-seeing – Genesis 34 : 1-2
ii.
Partying,
feasting and going on picnics -
Ecclesiastes 7 : 2-4
iii.
Patronage
of games and viewing centers.
iv.
Passive
involvements in spiritually rewarding activities like praying, preaching and
participating in revival programs.
v.
Play
around, have endless fun, watch television/home video or even sleep long hours!
– proverbs 19 : 15; 21:17
vi.
Parental
indulgence. Some see this period as time to be “spoilt” by their parents after
long stay away from home, particularly boarders.
vii.
Postponing
learning and acquisition of new skills – Proverbs 21: 25.
What are the
profitable achievements of purposeful spending of holiday?
The Scripture
said that “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a
hundredfold and the Lord blessed him” Genesis 26:12. There are numerous
benefits and rewards for a hardworking individual for a purposeful and
productive use of the holiday period. Some of these are:
i.
Good
Success - Joshua 1:8
ii.
Gainful
employment – Genesis 39 : 1-5
iii.
Garners
will be full - Genesis 26: 12; Deuteronomy
28: 4- 5.8.11
iv.
Grace
for holy and pour living – Philippians 4: 13; 2 Corinthians 12:9
v.
Godly
glorious heritage both now and for eternity – Daniel 12: 3
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