11.15.23
In Everything Give Thanks?
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:18).
When the Bible says in everything give thanks we might be prone to question the words, in everything—should we be thankful for everything that happens to us?
Without doubt, many things that happen are evil, difficult, and filled with sorrow. However, what the Scriptures address is our response to the things that happen to us, whether they are good or bad. In one sense, we are not to give thanks for everything, but in everything—in the midst of every situation.
Giving thanks to God in the midst of difficult events is only possible if we have the right perspective. What do we deserve? What does God guarantee to us? Is happiness an eternal right? The answers to these questions help us focus on the right perspective.
If we deserve nothing due to the sinful condition of our nature, then anything we have brings gratitude. If God guarantees the assurance that He has allowed what happens, good or bad, in order to build our character, then our perspective changes.
We live in ungrateful times. Children are often not thankful to their parents for providing shelter, food, and clothing. Adults often show ingratitude toward employers. Church members often fail to thank those who serve them with sacrifice and faithfulness. Why?
We have perverted God’s provisions into entitlement guarantees. Television preachers often preach a health and wealth message. Governments sometimes foster a dependency mentality. These things pervert both God’s goodness and man’s need. God is perfect, holy, and righteous, owing us nothing. We are sinful, perverted, and warped, and owe Him everything. If we don’t start with this premise, our basis for giving thanks will be selfish and limited.
Giving thanks is thus our duty, and the first response we owe our Creator. We ought to be thankful for every breath, for we have no guarantee of tomorrow. We ought to be thankful for every meal and the simple joys of life.
Of course our gratitude should begin with thanking the Father for sending His Son to take our place on the cross of Calvary. God loves us enough to provide salvation freely to all who will come to Him through His Son by faith.
In order to understand the meaning of the special day of Thanksgiving, we must look at its Biblical meaning and the development of the holiday from early Europe.
The Bible gives us an example of a thanksgiving celebration. The Feast of Tabernacles, established in the OT, is still observed today by many Jews. It is a time to reflect on God’s goodness to Israel during the forty years of wilderness journey.
It is known as ‘the feast of booths.’ Observant Jews make temporary shelters to be reminded of what it was like to live in the wilderness.
It is also called ‘the feast of in-gathering,’ for it occurred after the crops had been harvested. It is a time of thanksgiving and joy, celebrating God’s past goodness in the wilderness, with gratitude for the Lord’s present provisions. This is in fact the forerunner of our modern day Thanksgiving.
Next week we plan to trace the history of Thanksgiving from England to America.