The Meaning of Thanksgiving -Revised
\\ Text: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
Title: The Meaning of Thanksgiving -Revised
Thesis: Paul gives instruction on the meaning of thanksgiving. It comes from God and is extended to others.
Time: Thanksgiving Sunday
I have titled today’s sermon “The meaning of Thanksgiving,” and I would like for us to think about what thanksgiving means. In America, thanksgiving takes on the form of a national holiday. Thanksgiving is defined by Michael Dresser, a writer for the Baltimore Sun, in this way, “Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down-festival. The one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty.” What I would like for us to do this morning is to not think of thanksgiving as a national holiday, but take on a more general understanding of thanksgiving, a biblical understanding that thanksgiving is a way of life. As a biblical concept, thanksgiving means living a life of thanks that grows out of the Word of God. Thanksgiving is the way we express ourselves, it’s at the root of our faith as we believe that everything we have comes from God, thanksgiving shapes our attitudes and actions as we show our appreciation for what God gives to us in the way we live to help others.
Paul is dealing with some difficult issues in First Corinthians. Beginning back in 1 Corinthians 5-7, Paul is dealing with relationship issues like the love and respect husband and wives are to give to one another, and to flee from immorality. I guess if this were a Valentine’s Day service we could take a look at Paul’s advice on dating and romance. As we go on to 1 Corinthians 5:-10, Paul then delves into the issue of food that has been sacrificed to idols. This may not seem like a big issue to Christians today, living in the year 2007 and far removed from the time when Christians had to wonder about food that had been offered to idols. But the issue was important in Paul’s time, and Paul links together these issues of immorality in 1 Corinthians 5-7 and idolatry in 1 Corinthians 8-10. Paul makes the point that our bodies are temples of God. From the way we live in relationship with others, to the very food we put into our bodies, we are to give glory to God. From the things we have to the things we do, in every way we are to give praise and glory to God with our bodies.
“Paul, is it okay for us to eat meat that has been dedicated in pagan temples to pagan gods?” This is the question posed to Paul by the Christians in Corinth. We could go into details with Paul’s reasoning and explanation of what they should do. But in the bigger, overall picture of how Paul handles the difficult issues facing the Christians in Corinth, Paul says that whatever a Christian does, two things should be upheld. First, God is to be glorified and second, our actions should benefit not ourselves, but others.
Now, back to thanksgiving, Paul writes about thanksgiving in 1 Corinthians 10:30, “If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?” The word Paul uses in this verse for thanks is the Greek word euxaristia , which means thanksgiving or to be thankful. It’s where we get the word Eucharist. It’s a word Christians shared as they came to the Lord’s Table as they gave their thanks for all of God’s blessings. The word thanksgiving is a common and favorite word that Paul uses throughout his letters. The root of the word thanksgiving is the word joy, that inner attitude that expresses our awareness that God is in control and that even in hard times, God is still with us.
For Paul, thanksgiving is more than a chow-down festival, it’s even more for him than the weekly event of people coming to the Lord’s Table, thanksgiving is a way of life. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians to be a thankful people. They are to be thankful for God’s salvation, thankful for the unity of the church, thankful for spiritual gifts, thankful for their friendships, thankful for Christ who gives them the hope and promise of a bright and better tomorrow. The Corinthians are to be thankful for God’s including them in his plan of salvation, thankful that they are called out of the world to live in the church, and the list goes on and on of the things that they are to be thankful for.
Living a life of thanksgiving begins with what God gives to us. It is not based on any outward circumstances. It’s not based on winning the lottery or becoming a famous celebrity, or having a successful life however the world would define such a life. No, thanksgiving begins with what God gives to us, it is never based on outward circumstances but inner joy. If Paul knew anything in his life, he knew hardship. Paul knew the sound of the closing of a jail cell door and the isolation of being a prisoner. He knew the pain of being ridiculed and stoned with rocks for standing up for his beliefs and for doing the right thing. Paul knew what it was like not to have much money or earthly goods, living by faith that God would provide for him his next meal. And most importantly, Paul knew that his happiness and joy came not from any outward circumstance, but only from God. Even in what looks like the lowest points in his life, Paul is filled with great joy. Even when Paul is writing letters from a jail cell, uncertain of his future, he writes about his inner joy and peace. Like Paul, have you discovered that thanksgiving begins with what God gives to us, and that it is not based on any outward circumstances?
During the darkness of the Thirty Year’s War in 1636, a German pastor named Martin Rinkart is said to have buried five thousand of his parishioners in one year, at an average of fifteen a day. His parish was ravaged by war, by death and economic disaster. In the heart of that darkness, he sat down and wrote a table grace for his children, “Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices. Who, from our mother’s arms, hath led us on our way. With countless gifts of love and still is ours today.” Here was a man who knew that thanksgiving comes from God, not from outward circumstances.
Just as thanksgiving is based upon what God gives to us, it is expressed in how we live to help others. What Paul says in the eating of meat sold in the marketplace that had been dedicated to idols, is that we should eat to the glory of God. We are to take care that we do not cause other Christians to sin, and this may mean that we give up our personal rights to set a good example and to help newer Christians in their walk. The issue is larger than to eat or not to eat, that is not the question, the issue for Paul is are we living self-centered lives, seeking for what may make us happy, or are we living self-less lives, that edify and build up the lives of others.
Mark Todd of Webster, New York describes an experience from his college days. An old man showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bid us good morning and offered his products for sale. We were uneasy enough that we made a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear. To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize it wasn’t alcohol but cataracts that marbleized his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he’d puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion. On one visit, he exclaimed, “The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch.” “That’s wonderful Mr. Roth!” we said. “We’re happy for you.” “You know what’s even more wonderful?” he said. “Just yesterday, I met some people that could really use them.”
Not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. That’s why we live as Christians. That’s why we pray for one another, comfort one another. To benefit others is why we sometimes limit ourselves so that we can set a good example for others.
This morning, as we come to the Table of Eucharist, we come with a full faith that God is providing for us. Whatever we may need today God will provide, be it vegetables and clothing, be it forgiveness and strength, whatever we need God will provide. And as we dismiss from the table, we dismiss so that we can benefit others. May we come as a thankful people. Amen.