Title: Giving Thanks
Text: Philippians 4:6-7
Time: November 23rd, 2003
Around Thanksgiving every year we remember the familiar scene of the Pilgrims and the Indians meeting together for the very first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims were thanking God for the many blessings they had received, including the Indians, in their thanksgivings to God, because without the providential help of the Indians it’s doubtful the colonists could have survived that first year. They thanked God for what they had and put aside their complaints about what they didn’t have. As Christians, they were probably aware of this biblical principle — taking stock in what one has, giving thanks for what one has, and not just focusing on one’s problems. We are approaching Thanksgiving Day and it’s a good time to take stock in what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t have. The Pilgrims had to do that, give thanks for what they had, instead of feeling bad about what they didn’t have. Compared to Europe, the early settlers had very little in the way of a standard of living in the New World at the beginning. It was a hostile land, and many, many people died en route and shortly after they landed. It was a hard life, not for the timid at heart. So the Pilgrims got together to celebrate and give thanks for what God had provided for them. It’s a great tradition, and it’s biblical, it’s in the Bible. The Apostle Paul teaches us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. On this first day of Thanksgiving week, I’d like to unpack Paul’s teaching on thanksgiving this morning and demonstrate how we can always be thankful no matter how hard life is or how many problems we face. It’s really the key to contentment in life, thanking God for what we have, refusing to dwell on what we don’t have, or what is wrong or a problem in our life. Learning to give thanks to God can change our lives and revolutionize our spiritual lives. The Pilgrims had to learn how to survive in the wilderness, they had to learn how to face difficulties with patience and faith, they had to learn to ask the Lord for his blessings, but just as important, they had to learn to thank the Lord for his blessings. It’s a pattern for our lives as well. But before we hear what the Apostle Paul has to teach, would you pray with me and ask the Spirit’s inspiration? (pray). Let’s look at three things about thanksgiving. (more…)