In Everything GIVE Thanks

Key Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 1 Th 5:18.

Background information: The Church at Thessalonian was going through persecution from their countrymen because of the Gospel. Paul wanted to re-visit the church to strengthen and focus their faith during their persecution. Unfortunately, Paul could not return, but sent Timothy in His place. He commended their faith because their “faith had gone out” throughout the provinces, because of their stedfast faith In Jesus, turning away from idols and looking for the return of Jesus Christ. The Apostle sent to the church some encouraging words to focus their faith:

1. In Everything give thanks

The Apostle Paul gives to the church a directive from God for believers...”give thanks in EVERYTHING”. What does this statement mean? The phrase is used as an verb; which indicates an action. 1 Chronicles 16:8 describes the actions of “giving thanks” as singing, praying, confessing and declaring the “mercies of God” Lamentation say that “it is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are NOT consumed (Lam 3:22-23). It’s more than a meditation or a mental accent to God’s goodness but its a command to “stop and behold”; it’s the overflow of our heart. Giving thanks is a “personal decision”....it is a “personal sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) to God

Count your blessing; name them one by one

Count your blessings “SEE” what God has done!

Giving thanks FOR everything versus IN Everything

The Apostle Paul did not teach that God commanded us to “give thanks” for everything. God is not the originator of our struggles, our pain or suffering (1 Thess 5:9). James 1:17 (James 1:13) says that “every good and perfect thing come from above”. We can “give thanks in everything” because even in our trouble, God is in the midst “working it out for our good” (Romans 8:28). Psalms 46:1 says that “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Why is “giving thanks” so hard? Paul is challenging believers to have an attitude of thanksgiving in all circumstances; not just when life is good but also during our struggles. It is a challenge for our flesh to focus on anything outside of its own wants and needs. (Eph 4:24) teaches that we must take off the dictates of our flesh like we take off dirty clothes and renew the Spirit of our mind by meditating on His word and through the power of the Holy Spirit. We live in a world that is self-centered and filled with negativity. Negativity is so contagious; if you hang around a negative person long enough; you will find yourself becoming an expert at “what is wrong”. (1 Cor 15:33) say “Evil company CORRUPTS good habits”. Whatever you meditate on is what fills up your heart and then comes out your mouth. (Luke 6:45)

2. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus

"Giving thanks” is so important to God that in Psalms 100 it is described as an a prerequisite to entering the presence of God. Our relationship with God is the most valuable possession we could have in our life time. The reason for Jesus living a sinless life and dying in our place was so that He could restore us to God.

Thanksgiving is acknowledging and recognizing His place in our lives. It is the root of contentment. Contentment is the state in which we recognize and are satisfied with the goodness of God we currently live in.

*Whatever God commands us to do; there is a blessing in obedience

Commentary:

Life Application New Testament Commentary (Paul’s Final Advice / 5:12–22)

5:18 Evil will happen to believers. When it strikes, they can still be thankful for God’s presence and for the good he will accomplish through the distress. Usually, God uses difficult times to build people’s character and strengthen their faith. It is easy to give thanks for the blessings; it is more difficult to give thanks for the blessings in disguise. By far, the most difficult task is to give thanks no matter what happens—even the situations that make no sense or are extremely painful. Yet this difficult task has been assigned to all believers, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Learning to give thanks in everything means learning to trust God completely. When a believer can give thanks so willingly, he or she has trusted that God is completely in control of all situations and is working out his will.

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Thessalonians Grateful in Attitude (1 Thess 5:18)

Grateful in Attitude (1 Thess 5:18)

At first blush this appears to be a very unusual command. Given how tough life is, we might wonder how it could even be possible for a person to give thanks for everything. While we may concede the need to give thanks for some things, we would certainly question the legitimacy of giving thanks for all things. When we read the verse carefully, however, we might be surprised to learn that Paul says we are to “give thanks in everything” and not for everything. This imperative speaks more about our perspective toward life than it does about our attitude toward our circumstances. To obey this command we must keep the big picture in view, and to keep the big picture in view we must understand how God’s providence works.

J. I. Packer defines providence as

The unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for His own glory. (Packer, “Providence,” 990)

Calvin states it a little more succinctly when he writes,

For what is fitter or more suitable for pacifying us, than when we learn that God embraces us in Christ so tenderly, that he turns to our advantage and welfare everything that befalls us? (Calvin, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 297)

Only God could take the thousands of details of a person’s life (some good and some bad) and weave them into the beautiful tapestry of His perfect plan. From the human perspective, many of life’s occurrences—especially the painful ones—appear to have little intrinsic value. However, if we had God’s perspective, we would be able to view each of these details in a different way. Providence affirms that no detail is irrelevant or insignificant. God is using everything for our ultimate good and His everlasting glory (Rom 8:28). Hence, to “give thanks in everything” is to affirm our resolute belief that God is overseeing every detail of our lives. Paul, by no accident, concludes this verse by reminding us that such an attitude is “God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (5:18b). What more could please the heavenly Father than for Him to know that we trust Him so much that we are willing to live each moment in a constant state of thankfulness?

1, 2 Thessalonians (3) Optimists and Pessimists (5:16–18)

Paul never instructed the church to thank God for evil events but to thank God that even in evil times and circumstances our hope remains, and God continues his work in our lives (Rom 8:28).