Thanks-Giving

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 2 Timothy 3:2

Sound familiar? In a few short days we as Americans will sit down with our families, a big cooked bird, and all the trimmings to discuss all the things we are grateful for. Many people will be grateful for that family, that meal, the many blessings such as new clothes, new computers, new cars, and new homes. Some will be thankful they are alive after fighting illness. A few will be thankful to God, and the sacrifice Jesus made for us. That is correct, I said a few.

I look at post on social media sites such as Facebook and everyone is posting their daily thanksgivings. This is really encouraging to see, especially since most of the people I choose to surround myself with have the same biblical values, values that in this country sadly have become a minority. Sadly even those of us who claim to be Christians have a hard time, sometimes being thankful for the things that truly matter.

I am thankful for the roof over my head, the shoes on my feet that took me several weeks to pick out because as Holly says, “he is just too darn picky.”  I am thankful for the new phones we just got, that our children are in school and I get time from them. I am thankful that we have freedom to do things like write blogs, speak our minds, and go where we want to go, but often times I take for granted how I got those freedoms.

So what is Thanksgiving and how do you show it? I think we have to look at the two words separately. First let’s look at thanks. Thanks by definition is; a feeling or expression of gratitude. We have so many things to be grateful for, many are listed above. I am fortunate enough to have many things that I want over a need, for that I am thankful. I am sure many of you reading this are in a similar situation, seeing as you at least need access to a computer to be getting this message. But even if you are not, say you are homeless, alone, and hungry can you or do you still have things to be thankful for?

Now let’s look at the second word, giving. The definition for giving is a long one but to paint the scene for you, giving is to make a present of, to bestow, to award as do, and to endure a loss or make a sacrifice, just to name a few. Nearly everyone has something they can give away, to sacrifice. My children have an abundance of stuff in their rooms, some of which has gone long times without being touched. Holly and I have decent jobs and make enough money to give to those who need it more. And speaking of those who need it more, what can they give? Well they have time, many have faith they can share, others have just a little more than the one next to them. We can all give and are commanded to do so. Acts 20:35 says, In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

So to close out, what should Thanksgiving look like? Well, we should have an attitude of gratitude in everything we do, receive, or even lose. We should then follow by blessing others with our blessings and love. Jesus on the night he was betrayed broke the bread and thanked God. Not only thanking Him for the bread but for the sacrifice He knew He soon would make. We must give to show our thanks.

 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18