Sign up for “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” - Psalm 92:1. So said one in olden times, and truthfully so since it must be recognized that it is from our God that all blessings flow.
God’s typical people, Israel, were educated in this most important exercise, and to this end there was instituted a feast of celebration called the Feast of Tabernacles, as recorded in Lev. 23:34-43, during which time the children of Israel were to recall the events associated with their great deliverance out of Egypt.
Three thousand years later, when the colonists had gained a foothold in what was to be called New England, and after a grueling experience with disease, death and a rigorous climate, a bounteous harvest gave them renewed hope and courage to continue the work they had begun in the New World. They, therefore, felt constrained to express their gratitude to God. Subsequently, a special day was appointed by the Governor of the State for this purpose. Later, by proclamation of the President of the United States, it was designated a national holiday, so that the nation might have the opportunity to pause and reflect upon the many causes for gratitude so obvious at hand.
Our thoughts, however, must transcend the gratitude only for temporal blessings, for these are but a small portion of the blessedness that come to those who have tasted the Word of Life, and by it have found access to the presence of the Giver of every good and perfect gift, our Heavenly Father.
We will, therefore, examine some expressions of the Apostle Paul found in his letters to various churches. They reveal what to Paul were important reasons for thanksgiving, and occupied a place at the beginning of his letters to the churches. In each of these, he found occasion for thanksgiving for the evidences of their Christian growth.
In his message to the company of God’s people at Rome, he said in Romans 1:8-9: “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.”
How fitting that the beloved Apostle would say this, he who is at this point of laboring so effectively toward the strengthening of their faith, for in this very letter he adds immeasurably to their comprehension of the most important aspect of a vital relationship with God. “For without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6).
How thankful we should be for faith, our great stabilizer in a dark and chaotic world; faith that lay hold of the many precious promises given for our comfort in God’s Word. These are a continuing source of encouragement to the one who exercises faith in the inspired Word. No doubt the Apostle had such a faith in abundance and rejoiced in thanksgiving at the thought of God’s saints in Rome enjoying the same blessed privilege.
To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge” (1 Cor. 1:3-5).
This church was beset by strife and division. He found evidence of carnality among them. In his prayer of thanksgiving, Paul reminds them of the grace which had been given them through Jesus Christ, as if to direct their minds away from petty differences and towards God, the source of all their blessings, and also to the great sacrifice which Jesus had made on their behalf. Paul was thankful also that having come into this vital relationship with God and the Lord Jesus, they could experience enrichment in their lives, such as they had never known - “being enriched by Him in every word and in all knowledge.”
Usefulness in the Lord’s service can be greatly enhanced if our words, being enriched by him, conformed to the pattern seen in Jesus himself. It was said of him that “men wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). Thus indeed is this a cause for thanksgiving, and the more so when the knowledge also has this same mark of Divine favor. To be enriched by him in all knowledge indicates a close and abiding union with him “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). How thankful we are that the one who penned these words had this blessing in his own life. His rich and fruitful ministry bears the unmistakable stamp of enrich-ment which could come from none other than the Lord he so ardently and thankfully served.
To the church at Philippi the Apostle Paul wrote, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3-5). Paul’s thankfulness and rejoicing was not only because some there had received the gospel and had been converted, but that they were giving unmistakable evidence of it in their willingness to share in the responsibilities of proclaiming it. There was a fellowship of participation in the cost, be what it may.
Memories of his experiences at Philippi were occasions for joy-fulness. The friends there occupied a special place in his affections. The love and hospitality extended to him while in their midst doubtless helped to mitigate the sufferings which befell him during the early days of his ministry there. Memories of these brethren were cause for thanksgiving, and drew from Paul the compliment, “My brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown” (Phil. 4:1). No criticism or rebuke for these loyal coworkers; just a message of love, and encouragement and a prayer to God on their behalf laden with thankfulness.
To the Thessalonians, Paul wrote, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith is growing exceedingly, and the love of every one of you is abounding towards each other” (2 Thes. 1:3). Evidence of Christian growth was such among these brethren that Paul not only gave thanks to God for it, but also boasted about it among the other churches. Persecutions and afflictions came upon this church; nevertheless, by patience and faith they made the best use of such experiences. Hardships caused them to draw closer to each other in an abounding love and was the cause of their growing abundantly in faith. This Christian growth was to Paul a cause for thanksgiving.
We are also living in dark days of uncertainty, moral corruption, and godlessness; nevertheless, let us give thanks to Almighty God for the blessings of temporal things which abound on every hand. However, our gratitude will indeed be incomplete if we confine it to the things seen and temporal. We, as Paul did, find an ever expanding reason for gratitude, especially for the spiritual things, which are eternal. Let us be moved to offer thanksgiving to God for our brethren and their spiritual growth as well as for our own.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations” Psalm 100:4,5.
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