Thanksgiving

Thank you Rich. If you have children ages 4-7 this morning that you would like to send to Children’s Church, they are dismissed at this time.

Good morning everyone. Before I begin this morning, I wanted put a plug in for the virtual choir. You might have seen that I have extended the deadline to participate to December 1. I really need you all to participate! Margaret Lansdowne got her video in this week with the aid of her granddaughter, so you are all without excuse!

Pastor Bill asked me if this morning I would preach on Thanksgiving, so this morning, we are going to be working out of Colossians 3:15-17. Some of you who have been here a while might object and point out that I have preached this passage before, but we’re honestly going to gloss over the singing part this morning. If you want to hear me parse out psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, I’m sure you can find the sermon in the archives. No, today, I want to focus on thanksgiving, and I think as we work through this, you’ll see why I’m starting from here.

Colossians 3:15–17 ESV

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A Thanksgiving Grammar Lesson

So, the main reason that I have brought us to this passage this morning, is that Paul uses three kinds of words here, an adjective, a noun, and a verb. Let’s start with verse 15.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Thankful - Adjective

The word that Paul uses here that has been translated “thankful” is the word, eucharistos. The verb form, eucharisteo that we will look at later is where the label Eucharist for communion comes from. the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed took break, and when he had given thanks, eucharisteo, he broke it.

Here in Colossians, though, Paul uses the adjective form, eucharistos. This is the only time that this adjective form of thankful is used in the New Testament (Hence why we’re here in Colossians this morning). Paul wants a description of the Colossians to be “thankful.” This of course begs the question, does the adjective “thankful” describe you?

On your handout this morning, I used the common fill-in-the-blank style, with one exception. When I write, “I am a _____________ person,” I actually want you to think about what word you might fill in to this blank. More importantly, what would the people around you fill in to this blank?

Perhaps, “I am a stubborn person.” “I am a talkative person.” “I am a hardworking person.” We could fill all manner of adjectives into that space. This morning, I want to narrow it down to two options. Thankful, and unthankful or ungrateful. Let’s talk about that second one first.

What does an ungrateful person look like? I’m sure you all have known people who are ungrateful. At the core though, ungrateful is the description of those in rebellion to God. Romans 1:18-22 talks about these people.

Romans 1:18–22 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Paul starts by describing these people, than then in verse 21, he identifies the core problem for these people, “they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.” These people are at their core ungrateful for God. It’s not that they don’t see him. They don’t acknowledge him and thank him for the creation around them.

One of the reasons that I require folks that want to serve on worship team to give their testimony is that I believe that unbelievers are fundamentally unable to worship in spirit in truth, much less lead worship. At best, they can go through the motions. In much the same way, ungratefulness is a baked in flaw of all us apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:15

Colossians 3:15 CSB

And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.

Let’s go back to Colossians 3:15. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Our English grammar construction here doesn’t do us a lot of favors by putting a period in the middle of this verse, separating these thoughts from each other. No, our identity as thankful people is wrapped up in the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts. If thankfulness is the desired response from the way God has generally revealed himself in creation, how much more is thankfulness the response of the heart that has been redeemed by the grace of Jesus Christ!

Let me pause here and ask you if you have the peace of Christ ruling in your hearts this morning. Are you overwhelmed by the amazing grace that He showed you at the cross? If this morning, that doesn’t describe you, and you want to know more about this peace that Paul is talking about, I would encourage you to reach out. Pastor Bill and Rich will both be up front here after the sermon. You can check the box on the connection card wanting more information about finding peace with God and we will be in contact with you.

So, if you ARE in Christ this morning, your defining characteristic to the world around you ought to be “thankful.” Because Thankful people are rooted in Christ. So, what does a thankful life look like? Let’s continue on in Colossians.

Colossians 3:16

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

So, here we move from description to action. We are to Let the word of Christ dwell richly in us. We’re to teach and admonish one other, we’re to sing! But tying all of these things together, we’re to do this teaching, admonishing and singing with thankfulness in our hearts.

Thankfulness (ESV) - Noun

The word Paul uses here is charis. Note the first word was eucharistos. Right in the middle of that adjective is buried the noun form, charis. The root word used here is the same one that used throughout the New Testament for grace. So, Paul not only wants the adjective thankful to describe us, but he wants us to have the noun thankfulness in our hearts. What does that look like?

I don’t know about you, but I am one who often grasps concepts by understanding comparisons and contrasts. If I’m trying to grasp a theological position, I want to read lots of perspectives. So, let me visit some contrasting possibilities before centering in on this idea of thankfulness in our hearts.

The first contrast is the painfully obvious contrast if you spend any time with the Israelites in the Old Testament. More often than not, the Israelites had grumbling in their hearts. Unlike the earlier adjective of unthankfulness, which is a passive description, a grumbling heart is actively complaining against God. Some translations even translate the word grumbling in the Old Testament as “ingratitude.” Again, look no further than the nation of Israel for your example.

God delivered them from the land of Egypt with miraculous plagues, parting the sea, a pillar of fire by night, and cloud by day. He fed them with manna from heaven. Yet what is their response more often than not to God’s provision? They complain. Pastor Bill was just in Numbers. At the cusp of entering the promised land, what was Israel’s response?

Numbers 14:2–4 CSB

All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Are you like the Israelites? Is God doing mighty works all around you, and yet your heart is filled with grumbling?

I wonder if even a greater danger for us is that of Entitlement in our hearts. Describing our American culture, one author suggests that:

“We live … in a rights obsessed, entitlement-driven age. We’re suspicious of authority. Our sense of reality centers upon ourselves, as if each of us were the sun in the solar system.”

--Entitlement in your hearts?

I think the best definition of entitlement is in a Charlie Brown Christmas, when Sally dictates her Christmas list to Charlie as cash in the form of tens and twenties. I would show you the scene, but I’m pretty sure that we would get quickly hit with a copyright takedown on YouTube. Anyway, she says, “All I want is what I have coming to me, all I want is my fair share!”

--Entitlement in your hearts?

Have you grown so used to blessings from God that you’ve begun to expect it because secretly that’s what you think you deserve from him? Another word for this might be presumption. Jesus warns against presumption in Luke 12 when he tells this parable:

Luke 12:16–21 CSB

Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

James warns of the same thing in James 4:

James 4:13–14 CSB

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

Beware the danger of presuming upon God.

What then is the key to having thankfulness in your hearts?

Both grumbling and entitlement have their root in lies. The first says that God is somehow holding back a greater blessing, and that things could be better if only.... Entitlement tells the lie that we somehow have earned and therefore deserve the favor of God. We need to replace these lies with truth.

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Are you saturated in the word of Christ? Does the truth of the Gospel permeate your life? Have you allowed other things to hold influence into your life? Pastor Bill would say I’m about to meddle. Which would you say you spend more time ingesting, the Word of God, or social media? Do you habitually check Twitter? (raise hand) Do you spend hours every day scrolling through Facebook or Instagram? What are people with absurd numbers of followers called? Influencers. Are you being influenced?

I was reminded of another one earlier this month. Seven or eight years ago, I made the decision to cut cable news out of my life. I think I first became addicted to cable news with 9/11. I became somehow worried that if I didn’t have the news on, I would miss when events shook the world. At some point I realized it was unhealthy, and my life has been better without it. A couple weeks ago, on election night, I turned on FoxNews again. Then, the election didn’t end on Tuesday night, so I tuned into it more on Wednesday and Thursday, and quickly, God began to remind me why I shut off cable news years ago. It is designed to hook you. It can and does begin to influence you. You too might consider taking a break.

Do you look at yourself, and don’t find that you have all that much thankfulness in your heart? What are your influences? Go back to the source of truth, God’s Word. Make that the most important thing speaking into your life every day.

Let us continue in Colossians:

Colossians 3:17 ESV

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

Give Thanks - Verb

Here we come to that final word, eucharisteo, translated here, “Giving thanks.” So far, we see Paul use the adjective to describe us as thankful, with hearts filled with the noun thankfulness. And here, Paul commands us to (verb) “give thanks.” When are we supposed to do this? On the fourth Thursday of November? The month of November?

Whatever you do! Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father!

This means that we need to give thanks when things are going good. You might think that this one is easy. Certainly, is is easier to be thankful for good things. The danger here is forgetting, or neglecting to give thanks.

One of the people that I’m sure we all miss since she moved is Kay Bollman. If you ever have had the privilege to pray with Kay, you know that at the end of every prayer she says, “And we certainly will remember to give you the praise.” Do you remember to give God the praise?

We joked at the leadership meeting that for my sermon, I was just going to do a Logos search for “give thanks” and read all of the passages that I got a hit on. If I did that, we would be here a while, even if I just limited myself to the Psalms.

Psalm 136:1 CSB

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever.

What about the other side? If we’re to thanks in all things, that means we are also called to give thanks when things are hard. This one is understandably a harder task, and often takes more time to get there. Often folks will go to Job when talking about trials, but I want to spend just a couple of minutes in Lamentations.

Lamentations was written in the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people by one who was left behind in the midst of the devastation. This was not a wholly unexpected event. Indeed, reading the history of Israel, it astounds me how patient God was with His people before He disciplined them. However, in Deuteronomy 28, He had laid out the consequences of breaking the covenant, and those curses are shocking.

We don’t have time to go through everything, but Lamentations 1 and 2 are really a recounting of the way God enacted the curses of Deuteronomy 28 upon the city of Jerusalem. The book is not for the faint of heart, and the devastation, physically, emotionally, and spiritually is total. Depressed yet?

The author certainly is. In chapter 3, he says:

Lamentations 3:1–3 CSB

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. He has driven me away and forced me to walk in darkness instead of light. Yes, he repeatedly turns his hand against me all day long.

He says:

Lamentations 3:16–18 CSB

He ground my teeth with gravel and made me cower in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. Then I thought, “My future is lost, as well as my hope from the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:19–20 CSB

Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed.

It doesn’t get much lower than this. I think we can safely say that things are hard. Yet, here is the very next verse:

Lamentations 3:21–26 CSB

Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

--Give thanks when things are hard.

See, the psalm that I quoted earlier gave thanks to God because His faithful love endures forever. As hard as Lamentations is to read, and difficult it is to understand, it too is a picture of God’s faithfulness to His covenant.

That’s how you can give thanks to God even in the hardest of times. Remember that God is in control, and above all, He is faithful. Now, sometimes it takes a while to get there. Believe me, there are folks that want to rush the struggle. They want you to skip Lamentations 1, 2, and the first part of 3, and get right to the “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” part.

Now, don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying that you can hang out forever in the darkest valley. You have a Shepherd that will lead you through that valley. If you are in that place, cling tightly to him. If you know someone who is there, pray for that person, listen and encourage, but don’t try to take the place of the Shepherd. Point to Him instead. You don’t know what blessings God has for them. As William Cowper, who struggled with depression all his life said, “The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.”

You’re not going to do that on your own. You’re not going to give thanks when things are good on your own. You are going to give thanks when you find yourself deeply rooted in Christ your Lord.

So, this morning, we talked about lives permeated with thanksgiving. Let me exhort you as you go out from this place, Be thankful people will thanksgiving in your hearts, always giving thanks to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.