SUNDAY SHOPS SHUT BUT PROFITS INCREASE

We must never forget that Sun, moon and stars must co-operate to produce our wonderfully convenient seven day week.  Out of these God has appointed every seventh day for us to use for the needed rest of our bodies and souls.  In a kind command God said to some of the earliest inhabitants on earth, ”Remember the Sabbath day (Sunday) to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labour and do all your work.” [ Exodus 20:8,9 ]. Sadly man despised this important law and is suffering the results of stress, strain and overwork.

In 1981 I was shocked to see a Woolworth’s store open on a Sunday. It seemed to mark the end of our quiet British Sundays.  In came noisy traffic, accidents, crime and broken families.  Happily God makes wonderful promises to those who keep His rules. He says, “Those who honour Me I will honour”. [ 1 Samuel 2:30 ]

Here is a good illustration of this.  In 1935 George Jempson opened a food shop in Peasmarsh, Sussex, measuring 235 square feet.  George honoured God by never opening on God’s special day, and his sales rocketed!  Son Harold and grandsons have followed on, so that today Jempson’s Superstore is the largest independent food store in the UK and has won many awards.  The original store now occupies 35000 square feet, and the business employs 250 staff, runs a bus service for locals, and has Coffee Shops in Battle, Hastings and Rye.  It has a petrol station, bakery, fresh meat stall, delicatessen, restaurant, but will never open on a Sunday or take on board the National Lottery.  Managers Stephen and Andrew Jempson love to point out that costs like lighting, heating, transport and cleaning have reduced to a minimum and families are delighted to be together at home on a Sunday.

If we obeyed God and Sunday’s were left as a quiet day the nation would be richer, healthier and happier.