"A thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a believer. It stands in stark contrast to pride, selfishness, and worry. And it helps fortify the believer's trust in the Lord and reliance of His provision, even in the toughest times. No matter how choppy the seas become, a believer's heart is buoyed by constant praise and gratefulness to the Lord."
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
We live in an era where people feel entitled to the blessings of God and the generosity of others. The ability to wake up each day, move about to pursue our dreams, have relationships that nourish our minds and emotions, and accumulate wealth to meet certain needs are things we often take for granted. We often forget that these gifts we receive come at a cost to the giver. We have received Christ freely by grace through faith but God had to pay a huge price for salvation to be free and accessible to all.
Thanksgiving is one of the primary ways we appreciate God for who He is and all He does. If we humans expect us to receive thanks for what we do, how much more God who gives us things that we sometimes don’t deserve. When our lives are devoid of thanksgiving, it signifies that we do not appreciate what He has done and continues to do. And in time, our reality may conform to this mindset: the generous provisions of God will become rare in our lives. This is why Scripture admonishes us to give thanks in all situations. Thankfulness is more of an attitude of the heart than an outward expression. It is what you have in your heart that comes out through your actions. There is so much we have received from the Lord that requires us to be thankful. But, we can focus on what we don’t have and remain ungrateful.
Thanksgiving opens the door to the miraculous power of God. Even for the God-Man, this was a crucial precursor to the outstanding miracles he worked. God always showed up to honour the Son because Jesus acknowledged the Father. In feeding thousands, Jesus first gave thanks for the few loaves of bread and fishes and then the multiplication followed as the disciples went on to distribute to the groups. Standing at the tomb of his dead friend Lazarus, He gave thanks audibly to the Father in the sight of the onlooking mourners. Even in this sorrowful situation, His thanksgiving paved way for life.
Gratitude is a choice we make to hallow him in whatever situation we find ourselves. Every day, so many things compete for our attention that we forget to be thankful for what we have: the mistakes of yesterday, the unanswered concerns for tomorrow, the difficulties of our present moments. Pastor Joel Osteen said, "one of the main reasons why we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful… we make what was once a miracle become common to us”. Once upon a time, you prayed to find a spouse and get married. Today, this is the miracle many are still expecting and longing to receive. Preoccupied with thoughts for a child not yet received, we easily forget the marriage and many other blessings we already have.
If we cannot thank God because of something we do not yet have, then this thing is an idol in our lives - something you desire more than God Himself. And anything that takes preeminence in your life over God, He has the sole right to withhold from you. God is a jealous God, and that means he protects what He loves and will not allow anything to stand in the way of His connection with us. Is your need for a child stifling your joy and hindering your expression of gratitude to God? Has this become an idol?
Tony Evans said, “God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks FOR everything. You don’t need to give thanks FOR that bad day. Or FOR that bad relationship. Or being passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is – you are not to give thanks FOR the difficulties, but rather IN the difficulties. That is a very important distinction, and one I think we often miss. Giving thanks IN everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than the difficulties and that He can use them, if you approach Him with the right heart and spirit, for your good and His glory.”
Corrie Ten Boom recounts how she learnt to thank God for the fleas while in prison with her sister. "“Thank you," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for- "The fleas! This was too much. "Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea." "Give thanks in all circumstances," she quoted. "It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.” And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.” Little did she know then that the fleas she saw as nuisance were actually serving God’s purposes The fleas were the reason the soldiers were not coming into those cells to abuse the women and the absence of surveillance created room for her to accomplish her assignment. Can you thank God for what appears like fleas in your life?
It may seem insensitive to ask someone to thank God for a child they don’t yet have. But such an act indicates confidence in the faithfulness of God to give this gift. A "Thank You" said in advance of receiving a gift puts the giver in a position where he cannot change His mind if there was a possibility to do so. Thankfully, we know God will not withhold His good gifts from us so our thanksgiving only serves to buttress our faith in Him. In Mark 11:24, Jesus says: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ESV". What would you do if you really believed God has answered your prayer for a child? Thanksgiving shows you have your child already. Like Hannah, don't wait until your Samuel manifest to change your countenance and wear a garment of praise. Go right on and thank God!
It was in the midst of an American Civil War that President Abraham Lincoln set apart the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to "our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens". It might have been absurd to some that he called on his fellow-citizens all over the world to observe this day when many faced crisis. But today, that life-threatening situation has passed and the instituted day is still observed today in the United States. It is because no situation is permanent or can outlast the eternal God of all possibilities that we must find a reason to thank God in all situations. As John Maxwell says, "Gratitude doesn’t come from our circumstances; it comes from how we choose to see the world."
One manifestation of gratitude is honour. When we truly appreciate someone and value what they do, our reasonable response to them is honour. Honour is a core value that requires a deliberate assessment of who the person is or stands for. Then our attitude towards such is backed by intentional giving of our best in our relations to communicate their worth to us. As Bob Hasson writes in The Business of Honor , the heart of honour is to steward relationships well - that is, to build, nourish, and protect healthy connections between people.
This value for relationships, is itself rooted in a high view of and value for people, which inform a certain understanding of what causes them to flourish.
As Christians, we are called to a life of honour and respect for all people. As Timothy Keller writes, "Christianity [holds] that all human beings are made in the image of God and therefore have an inviolable right to be treated with honour and love, regardless of whether they culturally, morally, and personally appeal to or offend us". Beyond this general call to honour, God has specified, in His Law, a category of people that we must ensure to honour: parents. In a post-modern world where rights and freedoms are demanded, we so easily overlook the invaluable role of the fathers and mothers God entrusts us to. From our very conception, they extend us the privilege of life by opting to keep us rather than abort us. When we exit the womb and enter this world, they make countless sacrifices to nurture, train and support us, as the Lord helps them. No wonder the command to honour parents is the first with a blessing tied to it to underscore its significance.
Isn't it noteworthy that God adds no qualifier to the kind of father and mother to honour? Whether a parent is good or bad, rich or poor, responsible or irresponsible, difficult or understanding, God’s command still holds: honour him or her. This directive applies to guardians, people who contribute to our lives, as well as the parents we inherit through marriage. As we see in Ruth's life, an uncommon measure of blessing is unleashed when a parent-in-law is touched by our acts of honour. For the faithful love and service she rendered Naomi, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, bear the grandfather of David, and become a part of the lineage of Christ. Who knows what gratitude and honour can unlock in your life?
There is an error I've observed in some Christian circles in our day: some people honour spiritual parents and men of God while neglecting or despising their biological parents. Many give gargantuan offerings and service in honour of ministers of God while giving little or financial support gift or respect to their parents. But truth is no amount of anointing oil or prophetic word compares to the impact of a heartfelt blessing of a parent on a child. The blessings they declare must stand (Genesis 27:33). Remember how Esau wept bitterly and asked if Jacob saved "just one blessing" for him? Thankfully, Jesus condemned such violations of God's word which was prevalent in his day too.
Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. You hypocrites!
Matthew 15:3-7a
Many are sowing seeds of dishonour and disrespect particularly in their relationships with parents and guardians yet they expect to experience the blessing of parenting. Truth is, the grace you do not honour you cannot enjoy. How is your relationship with your parents, in-laws, guardians? Are you nurturing these vital connections with them and appreciating their value with your attitude? What of your relationship with your spouse, the hopeful parent you are doing life with?
When was the last time you intentionally chose to go one day without complaining about the things you don’t have or comparing yourself to others? Can you decide to thank God for your marriage even now that your children have not yet manifested? Thank God for your spouse, the gift of life, a job, something that is almost becoming ordinary to you. Find something in your life you can be grateful for about your marriage. Even if conditions are tough, find strength to offer a sacrifice of praise as you consider all that Jesus has done and can do for you (Hebrews 13:15).
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 136, Luke 17:11-19 , 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Malachi 1:6-14