Thankfulness

In the life in which we live, our attention is too often riveted upon the things that have gone wrong. We seem to feel most acutely the hurts in our life. Our minds dwell on the things that do not go right. Sometime we can hear two or more people bragging about how the conditions in their lives are worse than anyone else they know. In the midst of the hurts and tragedies are blessings too numerous to mention. But they often go unheeded and unappreciated while we soothe our wounds. Appreciation is the feeling within us that leads to thankfulness. Thankfulness requires appreciation. Appreciation requires thoughtfulness and awareness.

Let’s consider some of the things we truly need to be aware of:

(1) We need an awareness of how little control we have over our life.

(2) We need awareness of how truly great are the blessings that God bestows upon all mankind.

(3) And the Christian should especially be aware of the great promises and providential care God extends toward his children.

First, we control so little of our lives. When God was addressing man’s arrogance in his oaths, he pointed out that we are unable to make one hair white or black (and we are not talking about a dye job) in Matthew 5:36. When Jesus was encouraging us to lay up treasures in heaven instead of depending upon earthly treasures, he gently reminded us that we cannot, even with thought and effort, add anything to our stature (Matthew 6:27). Our life itself is just a vapor, here for a little while and then gone (James 4:14). Solomon pointed out that even in the plans we make for our lives, skill, intelligence and education do not always win. Rather, “time and chance happeneth to us all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Brethren, if we have so little control in our lives, we must be aware of how great are the blessings of God who watches over us.

The idolater and the thoughtless often do not stop to consider the greatness of God’s blessings. This is part of Paul’s lesson from Mars Hill in Acts 17. Our God does not need us, but we need him because he gives to us all life, breath and all other things. James 1:17 points out that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father. And even though some do not acknowledge Him, he testifies to his existence and power by the things that He gives us such as rain, fruitful seasons, food and gladness (Acts 14:17). Both the wicked and the righteous are blessed by God in His natural gifts (Matthew 5:45). Of course the unrighteous are either unaware or unappreciative or both. However, God’s children constantly count their blessings. We are acutely aware that every blessing in life and life itself are because “he upholds all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

As God’s children, we are also aware of the great precious promises and blessings that are ours because we have received the adoption of sons. When we have a need we bow our heads to seek the help of our Father and we know that we will receive that which we requested (James 1:5; 1 John 5:14-15). Because we are His children, we can walk everyday in the light in a continuous state of forgiveness (1 John 1:7; Romans 4:7-8). When a new day dawns, it is not just another day for the Christian. It is a day in which God believes some will come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and it challenges us to find those who are “white unto harvest.” Christians are able to count as passing circumstances both the transient blessings and the transient tragedies. We seek a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:16). We focus on things that are above (Colossians 3:1-2) even while thankful for all He has done here below. We cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

I encourage you to be even more aware and thoughtful of our blessings. When we go to God in prayer, let it be with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6) for all He continues to do for us. Let’s definitely not be like the 9 lepers who did not have enough appreciation to thank Jesus for their healing (Luke 17:11-19). Let us teach our children and each other of the great blessings of God. Let us contemplate the things we would not have without God. Let us stop and give God thanks for all we have and even for the strength that our troubles give us.

Mike Glenn