Even
though the birth of a baby has always been a cause for much joy, the Bible
makes no reference to a birthday celebration for a servant of God. (Psalm
127:3) Was this simply an oversight? No, for two birthday celebrations are
mentioned—that of a Pharaoh of Egypt and that of Herod Antipas. (Genesis
40:20-22; Mark 6:21-29) Both events, however, are presented in a bad light—especially
the latter, which saw John the Baptizer beheaded.
“The
early Christians,” notes The World Book Encyclopedia,
“considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.” The
ancient Greeks, for instance, believed that each person had a protective spirit
that attended the person’s birth and thereafter watched over him. That spirit “had
a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born,” says
the book The Lore of Birthdays. Birthdays also have
a long-standing and an intimate link with astrology and the horoscope.
Besides rejecting birthday customs on account
of pagan and spiritistic roots, God’s servants of old likely rejected them on
principle as well. Why? These were humble, modest men and women who did not
view their arrival in the world as so important that it should be celebrated.
(Micah 6:8; Luke 9:48) Rather, they glorified Jehovah and thanked him for the
precious gift of life.—Psalm 8:3, 4; 36:9; Revelation 4:11.
At
death, all integrity-keepers are safe in God’s memory, and their future life is
guaranteed. (Job 14:14, 15) Says Ecclesiastes 7:1: “A name is better than
good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born.” Our “name” is
the good reputation we have gained with God through faithful service.
Significantly, the only commemoration commanded for Christians involves, not a
birth, but a death—that of Jesus, whose excellent “name” is the key to our
salvation.—Luke 22:17-20; Hebrews 1:3, 4.
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