Birthdays

Birthdays are supposed joyous occasions for the birthday boy or girl.  Usually he or she would be feted with well wishes and presents; celebrations with food and entertainment are also in order, especially with family and friends.  The Happy Birthday song would usually be sung before the cutting of a cake.  Incidentally, the melody and the lyrics of the song were written in the mid-nineteenth century by the Hill sisters for a classroom greeting with the words, "Good morning to all" until someone changed it to the familiar words which is used universally.  Birthdays can also be celebrated for nations like Singapore which turned 47 recently. 

In the Bible, there are occasions when one's birth is not celebrated or rejoiced over.  Job cursed the day of his birth:
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said: “May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’ That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it.  Job 3:1-4 (NIV)

We can understand why Job did not want to be born.  He had just suffered the greatest calamities of his life, being robbed of his possessions, children and health.  It's like how we sometimes wish the ground would open up and swallow us when we have committed a great mistake to avoid embarrassment.  But Job had it worst.  He may have celebrated his birthdays in the past with family and friends, but when you are really down and out, celebration is out of the question.  When we are no longer looking forward to our birthdays, we need to ask God to turn things around for our good.

Let's look at a New Testament example.  In referring to Judas Iscariot, Jesus said, "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”  Matt 26:24 (NIV)

The consequences are great for Judas who betrayed his Master.  He caused an innocent person to be killed.  We read that he regretted his actions and committed suicide (Matt 27:3-5).  We could say this also for the wicked monarchs King Ahab and Queen Jezebel; also Aldolf Hitler and all those who take away innocent lives senselessly.  Many are born into this world as innocent babes but with the genetic code to commit sin.  It is through the various influences of life and the choices one makes that predisposes one to a life of crime and brutality.  We can also open our hearts to the influences of the devil when we give him permission to do so by dabbling in the occult or idolatry.  If we recognise our propensity for evil, we need to repent of our sins and ask God for His forgiveness. 

Finally, two instances of joyous birthday celebrations found in the Bible.  One is the birth of Obed the son of Ruth and Boaz, who was the grandfather of king David (Ruth 4:16-17).  His birth took away the shame of barrenness and caused the line of Noami and Elimelech to continue leading to the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  And this is the next joyous birth occasion that I want to share:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  Lk 2:10-11 (NIV)

The birth of our Saviour is a cause for great celebration because He has come to save the people from their sins.  We are beneficiaries of the finished work of Christ at Calvary's cross.  Not only is the birth of Jesus a cause for rejoicing, likewise the birth of Billy Graham, Bill Bright and all those who have made an impact for God by drawing people closer to Him through Christ.  May you be such a person as we celebrate the birth of a saint (one set apart for God).