Thankfulness

Introduction:

I love the holiday season. Personally I love all the hustle and bustle some many people trying to spend time with their families and to be reminded of what they are thankful for.

As I was studying for tonight’s study I realized how important it is for us, as believers to be thankful.

To be thankful for what the Lord our God has done for us. Thankful that we have an assembly of believers who we get to call family. Thankful that we have ministries and opportunities to be used by God.

According to Scripture there are 5 areas in which we are reminded to be thankful in:

A general thankfulness.

Meals.

Communal Worship.

In private prayer and life.

The Lord’s Supper.

A general thankfulness:

In most of Paul’s letters contains a section of thanksgiving, typically after the formal greeting and address. Paul offers thanks to God the Father, usually in regard to faith of the specific church he is addressing:

1 Thessalonians 1:2–10 NKJV

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

This teaches us something really important about thankfulness doesn’t it?

We are not only to be thankful for our own salvation but the salvation of others as well.

We are to be thankful that God would allow our family to grow to include a plethora of people, from every tribe and nation. There is something so beautiful to the fact that we could go to a different part of the world and still find family.

Meals:

The book of Acts and the NT letter mentions giving thanks in relation to Christian meals: For example, the book of Acts recounts that after enduring a storm at sea, Paul: Acts 27:35

Acts 27:35 NKJV

35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.

Paul also mentions thanksgiving in association with meals in his discussion of proper eating for Christians.

In Romans 14, Paul addresses a division between those who fell they can eat anything and those who eat only vegetables: Romans 14:2

Romans 14:2 NKJV

2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

He clarifies that each was acceptable to God because: Romans 14:6

Romans 14:6 NKJV

6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

As believers we are to be thankful for diversity of the body of Christ and to be thankful where ever you find yourself.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary At Christian Meals

In First Timothy, Paul counters false teachers who forbid marriage and the eating of certain foods (1 Tim 4:3). He argues that God created all foods as good and they should be received with “thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth” (1 Tim 4:3–4 NIV). To Paul, “nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim 4:4–5 NIV).

Communal Worship:

In our church life too, we are to allow thanksgiving be a regular part of our services. Paul instructs the churches to give thanks to God for all things:

Ephesians 5:20 NKJV

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Which was part of God’s will for them:

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We likewise are to be anxious about anything, but instead present our request to God with thanksgiving:

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

In private prayer and life:

Guthrie notes that thanksgiving is a characteristic of the entire Christian life. Christians are to thank God for creating and sustaining the world and for His ongoing redemption of it through Jesus.

We are expected to pray to God privately:

Matthew 6:5 NKJV

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

And thank Him for what He has done:

Luke 17:12–19 NKJV

12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Even the Psalms display individual prayers of thanks and the NT includes individual thanks for fellow believers:

Philemon 4 NKJV

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

Thanklessness is regarded as rejection of God, which leads to further sin and eventual judgement:

Romans 1:21 NKJV

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The Lord’s Supper:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NKJV

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Ultimately, Christians are to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him:

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

From this perspective, all of an individual’s life in Christ—whether in worship, at meals, or otherwise—becomes an opportunity to offer thanks.

Numbers 6:24–26 NKJV

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’