Be Thanksgiving

In each of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, Paul addresses the problem of Idleness. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15) However, because this is Thanksgiving weekend, I want to address the topic of idleness from the standpoint of thanksgiving—idleness is such a serious sin because it robs us of the opportunity to Be Thanksgiving.

Before I read our main text this morning, I would like to read from two other texts that lay the foundation for our main text. The first of these foundational texts 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12:

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 ESV

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Notice that God has ordained work as the means by which we are “to earn [our] own living.”

The second of these foundational texts is Ephesians 4:28:

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

This text teaches us that God does not intend for us to provide only for our daily needs, but for the needs of others truly in need. Biblically, this would include those who are in a temporary crisis (such as a natural disaster) and those who are unable to provide for themselves because of age or disability.

With these two purposes of work before us: To earn a living and to give generously, we are now we are ready for our main text, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15:

2 Corinthians 9:6–15 ESV

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

The key verse in this text is verse 10:

2 Corinthians 9:10 ESV

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

In this verse Paul speaks of our labor as “seed” that produces both our "bread for food” and a “harvest of righteous”. Moreover, it is God who supplies both the seed and the harvest. In other words, ultimately it is God who deserves all the praise and thanksgiving. Consequently, by diligent labor and generous giving we Become Thanksgiving!

The first place we Become Thanksgiving is in our Labor:

Your Labor Produces Thanksgiving to God

As we have already noted, our ability to labor is a gift of God. God doesn’t need us, but in love He desired to share Himself with us, consequently, He created us in His image. In John 5:17, Jesus teaches us that God is a working God. As image-bears, we are created with the ability to work and create. We thrive when we are producing, creating and giving. Idleness is a great evil because it destroys the human spirit and character.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt understood this biblical truth, he said, “The lessons of history show conclusively that continued dependency upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber.”

Sin is like a virus, where there is one sin—many more will follow. Paul is concerned about those who are idle in the Thessalonians church, because he knows a whole host of other sins will follow in idleness’ wake. This is why we as Christians must do everything we can to battle the sin of idleness, beginning with our own labor.

When we work diligently, our text says that God receives glory and thanksgiving. God receives glory first because our labor reflects God character—He is a diligent laborer. Secondly, because He has given us the strength and ability to labor productively. Even labor the world considers lowly, can result in praise and thanksgiving going to God. For example, Paul writes:

Ephesians 6:5–8 ESV

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

So Be Thanksgiving by laboring diligently “as unto the Lord.”

If you do so, God promises not only to provide for your “daily bread,” but also to provide for you a “harvest of righteousness” through your generous giving.

Your Generosity Produces Thanksgiving to God

Twice in our text, we are promised that our generosity will result in thanksgiving going to God, first:

2 Corinthians 9:11–12 ESV

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

And then:

2 Corinthians 9:13 ESV

By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

There is a very important reason giving is called “charity” in the English language. The word charity is an example of how the Bible has shaped our English language. Charity is another word of love. True generosity must be giving willingly and with a cheerful, loving heart:

2 Corinthians 9:7–8 ESV

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

This is why Paul reminded the Corinthians that giving should be regular and planned:

1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

Paul is drawing from the wisdom and example of the Old Testament tithe. Under the Old Covenant, the ministry of the Temple and the Levites was supported by the tithe. Under the tithe, 10% of everything produced was given over to the Lord. The tithe was proportional giving, the poor would give less and the rich would give more, but everyone gave 10%. Notice that Paul instructs each person to give “as he may prosper.” This shows he had the concept of proportional giving in mind.

Some have argued that the tithe is not directly taught in the New Testament. That is true, but proportionate giving is. You should never give “under compulsion, but cheerfully.” Therefore, I don’t want to pressure anyone into “guilt-giving,” but I will give you this promise: Set aside the percentage of your income you can give cheerfully to the Lord each week. Give this amount each and every week. I am confident that if you will do this, you will discover in time that the Lord will work in your life is such a way that you can give 10%, if not more cheerfully! How can I be so sure of this, because the promise is not mine, but God’s!

2 Corinthians 9:10–11 ESV

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

I want to close by reminding you of how your regular and planned giving is producing thanksgiving to God right here at Greene Valley PCA.

This past Monday, the Elders voted to send $2000 in aid to help one of our sister PCA congregations in Paradise, CA. Every member of this congregation lost their home, as well as their place of worship! Can you imagine the praise and thanksgiving that that congregation will give to God as this check and many other come pouring in all across the PCA!

I also want you to notice also that next Sunday we will be welcoming three new adult members into our congregation and baptizing one child. We often think the only part of our budget that is “mission” is under the mission section. But think of this, would these individuals be joining this church if we did not maintain our building and pay our utilities? Of course not! In fact, it was the faithful giving of God’s people that played a role in the conversion of each and every one of us. Paying utility bill does not sound like “Kingdom work,” but it is. We are all living proof!

So on this Thanksgiving weekend; do not just give Thanksgiving, but Be Thanksgiving through your diligent labor and your faithful giving.