Bibical Concept of Birthday's

Most of us assumes that birthday is one of the special day in our life and therefore every nation on the earth as a set pattern to celebrate birthday. Birthday cakes, candles, singing “ Happy Birthday” receiving gifts, throwing birthday parties, Most modern celebration birthday bumps, Smashing birthday cake all over the face, sending birthday messages sharp at 12 in the night.

Few believers do not celebrate birthdays. But does that mean.We can’t celebrate birthdays at all? We are made in the image of God. Bible never gives command to celebrate birthdays and so do this is the one reason why we are never commanded to celebrate Christmas. We may do that, but Bible do not tell us to celebrate Christmas. The Bible talks about are physical death date.

The Bible talks about spiritual birth, As I got to know from one of my uncle Mr S Nand the saying born once, die twice but born twice die once.

John 3 verse 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When we buy a new mobile phone along with the phone we get the manual where we have instructions on how to use the phone, Our non Christians friends follow a tradition when a new baby is born they go to  some religious Maharaj and they get the Kundali of the baby where they have instructions given what to wear, which colour is lucky and so on. Similarly when we are born we are provided with an instruction manual on how to live our life and the manual is nothing but the Bible. Every word of the scripture is a message from God to all of us, Who we are, What we are, Why God created us and How God wants us to live our life.

In Matthew 4 verse 4 “ One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”

Let’s see few examples of Birthday from the Bible

First Birthday: Gen 40 verse 11 to 23 Pharaoh, the Egyptian king, celebrated his birthday by executing his chief baker. God informed Joseph through a dream that Pharaoh would kill the baker and in further verse we get to know that the baker was hung at the party.

In most of the birthday parties people drink and all know what happens if someone gets over drunk and the outputs which comes through over drinking. We may not exactly do what Pharaoh did but we may end up in fighting because argument leads to fight.

Second Birthday:  Matthew 14 verse 3 to 11 In verse 6 we read that Herod’s daughter delighted him so much that Herod swore to give her whatever she might ask and prompted by her mother she asked head of the John the Baptist. As a result a great servant of God lost his life.

We also may get carried away like Herod, In our birthday parties there could be a girl ( Like Jezebel Rev 2 verse 20} through a tricks we may get carried away and fall for her which is against the will of God. Because God do not like adultery.

God never records the birth of his beloved son Jesus, No where in the bible it gives us the exact date when Jesus was born, for that matter bible never gives us the date of birth of Abraham, Moses. Bible also never tells us to celebrate Christmas. December 25^th is marked the time of winter solstice and the idol worshipper’s held pagan festivals to celebrate the rebirth of the sun.

No where in the new testament we find examples Jesus disciples celebrating Christmas  or the birthday of Jesus. Millions of us observe Christmas with a 100% service level like we buy new clothes, we decorate house, we make sweets, we buy cakes, we exchange gifts but we all miss on 100% service level when it comes to observe his death and second inning. In Mark 7 verse 6 to 8 “ This people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me, In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human percepts.

Most people think that the day of one’s birth is special. Celebrating  birthday does seems that it is right thing to do. Yet Solomon was inspired to write in Ecclesiates 7 verse 1 A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

If the day of our death is better than the day of our birth and some scriptures in the bible do support this , then how special can this day be? According to scripture it is not a time to express joy, sing and expect gifts simply because one is born into the world on a specific date.

Most people do not think death particularly a better day. When it happens to a family member or a close friend it is usually a day of terrible sadness and emotion yet the Bible says this day is better than the day of birth.

Romans 6 verse 23 For the wages of sin is death. But there is also hope through Christ. Jesus Christ is returning on the Earth to put an end to all enemies which also includes death.

1 Cor 15 verse 24 to 26 The last enemy to be defeated will be death.

1 Cor 15 verse 54 to 56: Where death is your victory? Where death is your power to hurt? Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law

So this life is a physical temporary existence. Once it is gone it is gone forever, considering this, what is so happy about a birthday into an ungodly world only to die and never see life again. Why celebrate being born into a world that is cut off from God’s divine guidance a world of misery, confusion, poverty, ignorance, famine and disease.

God can and will give you eternal life. He wants you to have it. He wants you to live to the fullest and experience the way of life that produces real peace, joy, abundance and security but life as to be lived His way according to His rules.

For since by man( Adam) death came, by Man( Jesus) came also resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die so do in Jesus all be made alive.

When compare to the awesome future God as in store for us. By accepting and following his rules we will never taste death and will not be limited to the physical laws of this universe ( 1 Cor chp 15) therefore celebrating one’s physical birthday seems foolish.

Why does God care whether or not we celebrate birthdays? After all it is a day for us to give gifts and to receive gifts from our loved ones.

In Jer 10 verse 2 to 3: Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven for the heathen are dismayed by them. For the customs of the people are vain.

But we should celebrate the birthdays of those who have reached the age of 80, 90 and above because in our current society we ignore old people most of us throw their old parents in the orphan hostels someone thinks their old parents are burden for them but we should celebrate their birthdays because in Proverbs 16 verse 31 states The hoary white or gray head is crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness people who have lived to great age, often have great wisdom and experience to share with the young generations.

Celebrating the day of one’s birth as a special occasion is wrong. It violates God’s command. It keeps people selfishly focused on their temporary, physical lives, when God’s purpose is to give mankind eternal life in His Family. True Christians should be focused on how their lives are preparing them for ruler ship on the earth at the Return of Jesus Christ.

Realize that God hates all pagan customs and traditions – Birthday celebrations are not an exception! 

Prayer: Thank you Father for taking care of my needs until now and taking care of needs of all those people who are reading this word now. Lord help us to understand the manual Bible which we have and help to follow your wish and guide us that we will try our best to keep ourselves away from the worldly traditions. Guide us speak to us and show us the way to understand should we follow to celebrate Jesus birth and so do our own birthday's Amen