Is it wrong to hold a celebration in advance of an event?
Question:
Good day, brother Jeff.
I encountered a weird question about holding a celebration in advance (e.g., a pre-birthday, pre-anniversary, or pre-going away party). A sister said we shouldn't do this because we're attempting to be a step ahead of God when we do not know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:14).
I understand her query as saying to let things unfold on their own. If your birthday comes, let it be because the One who holds the future is God, and we have no control over our tomorrow. We shouldn't seize the initiative; let God instead.
I'd like to tell her that God is indeed in control of the future, but I don't think it's wrong to make plans for the future. But then I realized that may not be the answer she was looking for. I tried thinking of an event in the Bible that someone made a plan ahead of the Lord and it was approved, but I can't think of any.
Does this sister have a point? How should I answer this?
Answer:
Interestingly, Jesus celebrated the Passover before the actual feast day. The last supper was eaten on the day of preparation (Mark 14:12; Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:7), not on the Passover. Jesus tells us why. "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:15-16). Jesus wouldn't be around for the Passover, but he wanted to enjoy the celebration with his disciples before his death.
Perhaps an objection would be raised about this example because Jesus is God and, thus, has control over future events. However, the example tells me that it isn't wrong to schedule celebrations in advance. Such are often done because not everyone can attend the actual event, yet they still want to participate in the celebration. It isn't an attempt to get ahead of an event or to somehow force the event to happen.
The future belongs to God, but we are still told to make our plans. "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). We simply acknowledge that anything we plan may be overridden by God.
Response:
Thank you so much for the insightful answer, brother Jeffrey!
