Thankfulness

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we thought we would take a brief look at what the Bible says about thankfulness.

Thankfulness is a prominent Bible theme.  First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

We have examples of being thankful in the midst of difficult circumstances.  Psalm 28, for example, depicts David’s distress.  It is a cry to God for mercy, protection and justice.  After David cries out to God, he writes, “Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song” (Psalm 28:6-7).  In the midst of hardship, David remembers who God is and, as a result of knowing and trusting God, gives thanks.  Job had a similar attitude of praise, even in the face of death.  “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).

There are examples of believers in the New Testament offering their thanksgiving to the LORD, even in the midst of persecution.  Paul, who was heavily persecuted, wrote, “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2 Corinthians 2:14).  The writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).  Peter gives a reason to be thankful for “grief and all kinds of trials,” saying that, through the hardships, our faith “may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

We are told to give thanks in all circumstances.  Thankfulness should be a way of life for us, naturally flowing from our hearts and mouths.

We should be thankful because God is worthy of our thanksgiving.  It is only right to credit Him for “every good and perfect gift” He gives (James 1:17).  When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances.  Expressing thankfulness helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only appropriate, it is actually healthy and beneficial to us.  It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God and that we have been blessed with all types of spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).

So, this Thanksgiving, despite whatever troubles and tribulations may come our way, let us give our thanks to God for all that He has given to us.

Pastor Mark

 

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First Christian Church is a Disciples of Christ congregation. Learn more about the Disciples on our Kansas region site and our main denomination page.

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First Christian Church

319 W. Laurel St.
Independence, KS 67301

620-273-2525