Ephesians 5:19-21 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
The season of thanksgiving is upon us. Many would say this season should be found among people throughout the year, unfortunately life gets in the way….at least, that’s what they say.
How can people be thankful in the midst of sickness, loss of loved ones, rampant inflation, broken marriages, or wayward children? In world that is increasingly growing more violent and opposed to anything or anyone who stands for justice and holiness, there might seem a lack of reasons for thankfulness.
Psalm 105:1-3. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!”
There is a difference in how the people of God give thanks as opposed to those who live for this world.
Godly Thanksgiving
With each expression of gratitude there follows a heart of worship. A godly heart that is thankful is one that recognizes the goodness of God.
Psalm 136:1-3 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever”
Everything God’s people are thankful for is found in their relationship with Christ. Believers recognize that every good and perfect gift comes down from above. The redeemed of the Lord rejoice because they have been set free from Hell and death. The ransomed of the Lord have been given new life, the chains of oppression have been broken and the prospect of a future in Christ has been secured.
There are many reasons for God’s people to give thanks.
Colossians 1:11-14 “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
A day of thanksgiving in the camp of the Lord is found every day…the people rejoice because God is always good. Sure there is still sickness, loss of loved ones, broken hearts, failed marriages, lost jobs, loss of honor, and tribulation. Sin is still prevalent in this world and until the Lord vanquishes evil, people will still feel its effects. The vulnerability that people experience in the flesh is superseded by the inward change that occurs within the heart.
The Lord has given new life to those who believe. He has healed the broken hearted and restored their soul, He leads them in paths of righteousness for His name sake….and His people rejoice.
For the wicked—it is not so.
Ungodly Thanks
Matthew 5:45 “…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
The blessing that rain will fall on the just and the unjust is received by the way people interpret the blessing.
Psalm 10:3-4 “For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire;
He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.
The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.”
The wicked are those who have rejected the Lord, there is no righteousness found in their hearts. They live for this world and deny the goodness of God. When prosperity comes, they rejoice in their own abilities, often seeking riches for pleasure simply to enhance their greed.
Thankfulness in the home of the wicked may be for family or friends but that kind of thanksgiving is not directed to the Lord, if God isn’t receiving the praise then where is it landing?
Thanksgiving for the wicked is the pride of man. Some may say that being thankful for family apart from God isn’t being prideful but in essence it is…true thanksgiving is worship so if God isn’t being praised then who is?
Mankind praises himself.
The world praises their own intellect, or incredible fortune that contributed to a heritage they think they have built–that kind of pride will fall.
Some chalk up their fortune to good luck, or being in the right place at the right time, while others relegate it to hard work and ingenuity…but the thoughts of God are far from them.
A Heart of Contentment
For those who have grasped the value of all that God has given, contentment resides like a sturdy ship in a raging sea.
1 Timothy 6:6-9 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
Whether you have little or a lot, the art of contentment is not in the volume of worldly gain but in the measure of God’s goodness.
This message contradicts the prosperity preachers as well as those who live for pleasure.
Life might pass you by as you seek those things you think will make you happy. The story of the fisherman reminds us of two different worlds…
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A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” asked the businessman.
“Because I caught enough fish for one day,” replied the fisherman.
“Why don’t you catch some more?”
“What would I do with them?”
“You could earn more money,” said the businessman. “Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me.”
“Then what would I do?” asked the fisherman.
“Then,” said the businessman, “you could really enjoy life.”
The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, “What do you think I am doing now?”
What do you have to give thanks for today?
Think about all that God has done in your life, all of the ways He has been faithful, and remember that He is good and will continue to be good all of your days.
Be thankful because God is Good and He demonstrated that through His Son….to all who believe.
U.T. 