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Bothwell & Clachan

Thanksgiving Sunday,

October 8, 2006

INTRODUCTION:

Let's first begin with some thanksgiving observations:

Politically Correct Thanks

(Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., in Assurances of the Heart. Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 13.).

It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone in the institution seems to be thankful "in general." It's very strange. It's a little like being married "in general."

• (From the files of Leadership.) In today's politically correct environment where you have to be so careful to keep from offending anyone, we might all have to give reports like this fourth grader who reported on the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. "The pilgrims came here seeking freedom of you know what. When they landed, they gave thanks to you know who. Because of them, we can worship each Sunday, you know where."

Not too thankful? Then that leads right into our topic for today:

"Three & 1/2 Reasons for NOT Being THANKFUL"

Now I do not know who might fit into these various groupings today. But as it is a Canadian Thanksgiving weekend you might like to play along with the folks at home.

Reason #1. For NOT being thankful: "God Never Answers My Prayers"

Yes, if you truly believe that God has never answered any of your prayers, then I think you might have a good reason not to be thankful this morning.

• Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member 2 thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this." Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this." Daily Bread, August 26, 1989.

I hope that there is no one here this morning who can truly say that God has never answered ANY of your prayers. That would be sad and shocking and should really be explored further. But you may be able to go one better.

Reason #2. For NOT being thankful: "I'm Not Even a Christian"

It would seem to be even more reason not to be thankful if you are not even a Christian. If Jesus is not your Lord, if you are not one of his followers then you may feel that you have good reason for not being thankful today.

• That might lead to a sense of self-sufficiency much like that expressed in the classic western movie Shenandoah. In it Jimmy Stewart stars as Charlie Anderson, a Virginian farmer trying to keep his family out of the Civil War. With one empty place set for his dead wife and his children gathered around the supper table, Charlie begins a litany they obviously have heard before: "Now your mother wanted all of you raised as good Christians, and I might not be able to do that thorny job as well as she could, but I can do a little something about your manners." He gestures that they all should bow their heads and continues: "Lord, we cleared this land, we plowed it, sowed it, and harvested it. We cooked the harvest. We wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be eatin', if we hadn't done it all ourselves. We worked dog-boned hard for every crumb and morsel, but we thank you just the same anyway, Lord, for the food we're about to eat. Amen." Shenandoah (Universal Pictures, 1965), rated PG, directed by 3 Andrew V. McLaglen, written by James Lee Barrett; submitted by Alan Beck, Souris, Prince Edward Island, Canada

But let's go one step further back.

Reason #3. For NOT being thankful: "I Don't Even Believe in God"

What if you don't even believe in God? Wouldn't that be the clincher? Probably a great reason not to be thankful.

• (Source Unknown.) Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn't make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We're in for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'"

Well, no, not believing in God isn't really something to joke about. But it could certainly be regarded as the clincher today in any discussion about reasons for not being thankful.

I mentioned earlier that this message was titled 3 1/2 reasons not to be thankful. But so far we have suggested only three reasons why you might fall into the unthankful category.

Reason #3 1/2. For NOT being thankful: "Any Reason of Your Choice"

So we still need a half reason. And this one is your choice. If you have never had a prayer answered, if you have never accepted Jesus as God in your life, if your are not even sure that there is a God, then you must have at least one other half reason for not being thankful. You might even write this one down so that you can visualize it for further examination.

Reasons for Thanks:

Now if we want to turn this around, on this Thanksgiving Sunday morning, where can we start? There is a warning in the Bible in Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.

So how do we begin expressing thank? For what might we express thanks?

Giving Thanks: Percentage of adults who say they express thanks by:

• Praying: 45%
• Being a good role model: 39%
• Volunteering: 36%
• Participating in a place of worship: 35%
• Giving money to charity: 30%

Research done by Yankelovich Partners for Lutheran Brotherhood, reprinted in USA Today (11-23-99)

Definition of Thanksgiving

We need to tighten up our Definition of Thanksgiving: the aspect of praise that gives thanks to God for what He does for us. People may express their thanks in many ways, but there's no better way than thanking God, who is the source of all good things.

So far this morning we have looked at 3.5 reasons for not being thankful Let's now look at 3 biblical reasons to be thankful.

1. Many Bible Verses Encourage, Even Command Thanksgiving of all believers, regardless of their initial attitude

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our 5 circumstances or feelings. Obeying these commands-often goes against our natural inclinations. Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything. Evil does not come from God, so we should not thank him for it. But when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God's presence and for the good that he will accomplish through the distress.

When the prophet Habakkuk faced national ruin & destruction he was still able to say:

Fig trees may no longer bloom, Or vineyards produce grapes; Olive trees may be fruitless, And harvest time a failure; Sheep pens may be empty, And cattle stalls vacant- But I will still celebrate Because the LORD God saves me. The LORD gives me strength. He makes my feet as sure as those of a deer. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God's ability to give him strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God.

2. a. We should be grateful to God for all things

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. Take heart-in all things God works for our good if we love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Thank God, not for your problems, but for the strength he is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life. You can be sure that God's perfect love will see you through.

2.b. But especially for His work of salvation and sanctification

Colossians 1:3-5 (3) We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, (4) since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. (5) Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel

It is not what we know that brings salvation, but whom we know. Knowing Christ is knowing God.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe.

3. We ought also to thank God in anticipation of His answering our prayers.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God

An Old Swedish Hymn:

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

thanks for all thou dost provide!

Thanks for time now but a mem'ry,

thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

thanks for peace within my soul!

CLOSING:

Thanksgiving Amidst Disaster

In 1636 during the Thirty Years War--one of the worst wars in the history of mankind in terms of the sheer number of deaths, epidemics, the economic results--there was a godly pastor whose name was Martin Rinkert. In a single year, this pastor buried 5,000 people in his parish--about fifteen a day. He lived with the worst that life could do.

But if you look in your hymnal, you'll find that in the middle of that time, he wrote a table grace for his children. In a moment we will sing it as our closing thanksgiving hymn:

• If I'd spent the year holding 5,000 funerals of the people I served, could I write for my children a song of thanksgiving? It's an unusual thing that in history many who have the least to thank God about thank him the most.

Joel Gregory, "The Unlikely Thanker," Preaching Today, Tape No. 110.

"Here was a man who knew thanksgiving comes from love of God, not from outward circumstances.

(Sing Hymn)