True Thanksgiving

Call a man unthankful and there really isn’t anything worse you can say. It was Matthew Henry, the 17th century Bible commentator who said this. I think we would agree, the preacher did not mince any words, did he? As brash a claim as this may be, the old pastor is quite right. There are few things more contemptible than a person filled with ingratitude.

Throughout the Bible, we are exhorted to give God thanks and praise for His goodness to humanity. In fact, God has been so good, it would be impossible to calculate His kindness. At church, we sometimes sing the old hymn, “Count your Blessings.” However, the truth is, God has done so much for all humanity, none of us truly can – count our blessings. This is true of born-again believers and unbelievers, whether any of us acknowledge it or not.

We (Americans in particular), have so much to be thankful for, yet we live in a culture that is progressively unthankful. Further still, not only is our me-centered society ungrateful, an ever-increasing number of people refuse to even acknowledge God, let alone give Him thanks. This really shouldn’t surprise the Christian, even if it rightly disappoints us. The Apostle Paul informed his young pastor friend, that one of the evidences of living in the last days was that men would be “lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, and unthankful …” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). This list sounds just like modern America. Yet, God has blessed us beyond measure, and He is worthy of our praise.

To put it plainly, ingratitude is a gross sin before God. In fact, if you will think back to the 40-year wilderness wanderings of ancient Israel, they were often chastened by the Lord for their constant complaining and ceaseless murmuring. Regardless of what God did for them, or provided for them, they still complained.

We parents often grow frustrated with our children when they are unthankful for ungrateful for the things we provide. Yet do we not also show a similar selfish spirit when we fail to give God thanks for all He has done for us? This should make clear to us, just how patient and long-suffering God is with humanity when we gripe and grumble instead of giving Him glory for His goodness to us! Contrary to a thankful heart, are those who are seemingly always discontent with their status in life.

Friend, whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian, whether you concede this or not, God has been good to you. Whether you share the Christian faith, or hold to some other system of beliefs, the God who created you – has been kind and gracious to you, and you owe Him thanks.

You may disagree with this, but I would ask you to think with me for a moment. If this Thanksgiving Holiday, you do like many families, and spend some measure of time around the table offering thanks for your many blessings in life … to whom are you giving thanks? Seriously, think on that. To whom are you expressing thanks?

The dishes in front of you full of turkey and dressing and gravy and all those wonderful items didn’t just magically appear out of nowhere. No, instead someone labored to provide those things. Hence, it is right and good for you to extend gratitude to those who worked to provide and prepare.

In the same vein, your very existence is a gift of God. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you consume; your home, your health, your job, your family, and everything else … are all ultimately provided for by God Himself. Yes, you may get up every day and go to work. But who gave you the strength to get out of bed? You may have worked hard to provide for your family. But who gave you the mind and ability to do this?

Don’t be so irrational as to give thanks for all you enjoy, but direct that thanksgiving to empty air. Instead, acknowledge the God who gave you life, strength, purpose, value and will. These things did not just magically appear either!

Folks, it is not enough, not nearly enough to be thankful for the stuff we have, but we must also be thankful for the God who provides it all. Thanksgiving must be expressed not only for what we have, but also extended to the One who gave! Yes indeed, be thankful for your many blessings, but remember from Whom all blessings flow!

True thanksgiving lists those things we are thankful for, but also the One we are thankful to. I pray you and yours have a wonderful holiday and count your blessings, and it will surprise what the Lord has done!

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