Be Thankful - Part 2

As we continue with the theme of being thankful, it is important to realize that sometimes we have taken something that we have for granted. The first thing we take for granted that comes to mind is the reason for why we are thankful. As we examine this, imagine a need being fulfilled that would not have been met otherwise. The person giving what is missing is voluntarily giving it to the other for no reason but to show that they genuinely care for the person in need. Does this sound familiar? The basis of being thankful is that you have a need and someone else fills it. Christ fills a need in our lives through making a way for us to live with Him. Because of our sins, we should be left out of heaven and all its glory. However, Christ paid the price of our sins so that we can unconditionally be restored back to fellowship with God, as has always been the intention. A need is recognized, fulfilled, and restored to someone, and then fellowship is gained as a result. It is only when we don’t do these things that the importance is recognized. As we look today, there are several things that we should always be thankful for and quick to remember the blessings that are given.

The first thing that we should always be thankful for is the blessing of our family. As believers, you have both your physical family and your spiritual family. Many times we are quick to be thankful for our physical families, but can forget about our spiritual family. It is the spiritual family that, hopefully, you interact with weekly at a place of physical worship. But even more than that, there are other spiritual family members that you associate with outside church gatherings as well. It is so nice that when you enter either a place of business or even a workplace, you can find people of like-faith. I am reminded of a recent example at my current employer, where a person entered the facility, and it was almost instantly that we realized we were of like-faith. It was a great conversation, and at the same time, the fellowship was a great boost to my day. With the thought of family, we should always be in a mindset to pray for them, as Paul reminds the Ephesian church. “[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). When praying for our physical family, this will encourage them. Likewise, when we are brought with a specific need in our spiritual family, we should do the same diligence in remembering them as well. Having a family is key to the mental well-being of an individual. Many times this is just to remember that we are not alone in our battles and that when we struggle, there is someone that is ready to help lift us up in a non-judging way to help us get back on our path.

Sometimes, we should be thankful that we are given opportunities to serve others. What if you had the opportunity to donate your time to help someone in need? Perhaps you see someone in the store and they are short a few dollars, so you assist them. Many times when something like this happens, there are two blessings that occur. The person receiving the gift is blessed by your generosity. The second blessing is the appreciation that the giver is receiving for noticing the need in the first place. This is why I am reminded of the verse that says give and it will be given to you (Luke 6:38). Paul reminded the Corinthian church as well that “being enriched in everything to all bountifulness… causeth through us thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). I have been blessed with several opportunities in which I can volunteer my time. It seems that every time I do this, the person on the receiving end is so much of a blessing to me in their true thankfulness, that many times I will accept the thanks and not even think about the fact that God is the one that gives me the time and the health to do these things. There are many other ways that we can give to others, so during this time of year, think about ways that you can give to others. Then remember to give thanks back to God for the opportunity He has given you to show others what God has done in your life.

There is a great challenge when it comes to giving thanks, which can be detrimental if not done with the correct attitude or intentions. This challenge is the spirit of heart. This is especially important with thanks being given or with the opportunity to help others. If something is done with a bad attitude or someone is ungrateful, it is a huge letdown of the opportunity. Proverbs gives us a great reminder when it comes to our hearts in chapter 15, verse 13: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Also, in Proverbs 17:22: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” We must remember that our hearts have to have the right spirit, not only if we are the recipient but also the person that is giving of their resources. In this way, we present the right attitude so that both individuals receive the blessing that is intended.

We should remember that we are a reflection of what others will see. When people know that we are Christians, they will pay very close attention to how we respond. Psalm 105:1 says to “make known His deeds among the people.” When we do an act of kindness, we should not focus on the reward as much as we do the opportunity to thank Him. Imagine a potential example of how this could go: you are in your neighborhood, and you see someone struggling with repairs to their residence. You, being someone who knows the industry, stop and help them. Since you have the credentials, they say yes to your assistance. Once the job is completed, you receive a fraction of what you felt was deserved for the day that you gave up to help them. You become frustrated and leave the neighbor and do not display a positive response to their payment. You go to church the next Sunday, and you see the pastor talking to a new visitor. You go to introduce yourself, and guess who it is? You guessed it; none other than your neighbor that you just helped. The neighbor sees you and then wraps up the conversation quickly and exits the building. Needless to say, they never come back. You then feel about ½ inch tall and have to sadly explain the situation.

Now let’s look at the same scenario but with a different outcome. Let’s say that the neighbor pays you for the job and you are genuinely appreciative of the reward. You then encourage them to reach out for assistance again, if needed. Then, you go to church, and as discussed, your pastor is talking to a visitor. You feel the voice is familiar, and you hear them say, “My neighbor is a Christian and helped me out when I really didn't have a lot of extra income, and they took what I could give and showed me that I am missing something in my life. So I thought I would come to this church and see what Christians are like.” You then introduce yourself and welcome them to the church. They then start coming to church and later accept Christ and become part of God’s family. This is the same situation with two completely separate responses and results. The spirit of our hearts when we give shows the true nature of our own thankfulness in the provisions that God gives to us.

One final way to view being thankful is, perhaps, to focus on the opportunities that we are given. Those that not only allow us to give out of our surplus and the opportunities they present, but also allow us to help others in their times of need. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 is a great verse that shows that we should edify each other. When we are helping someone out in their time of need, it is to lift them up or edify them in their struggles.

As we enter this time of thankfulness, first we must reflect on what we are truly thankful for in our lives. Are these things that are temporary or perhaps focused on ourselves? Or are we thankful for the opportunities that God allows us to show our thankfulness manifested in others. When we are thankful, it is important for us to thank God for our provisions, but we should also be thankful for those that are put in our path to assist in their time of need, which will result in a blessing for both individuals. I challenge you during this time, look for both aspects in your life so that you can truly be thankful in all things, as Paul reminds the Thessalonian church in his first letter to them: “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).