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November 27, 2005
Mural Worthey
Be Ye Thankful
Question #1
There are several questions that arise
concerning the subject of thanksgiving. In
view of the numerous blessings from God, one immediate response is, “What
shall I render unto God?” David
often expressed his feelings in just that way.
“What
shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12.) “Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with
benefits, even the God of our salvation.”
(Psalm 68:18.) “Bless the Lord, O
my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
(Psalm 103:2.)
We could say that this is the only real
question that need be asked. What shall
we do in response to the blessings and benefits of the Lord who made us? The reply is, We should bless his name, We
should give thanks unto him, and We should live in grateful obedience to Him.
The psalmist described in detail how God
provides for his creation. (Psalm
104) He wrote: “He waters the hills from
his chambers. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle
and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth
and wine that makes glad the heart of man and oil to make his face shine and
bread which strengthens man’s heart.”
(104:13-15.) God not only
provides for man, but for the animals as well.
In addition, God provides for man’s
spiritual needs. “Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in Him
before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of
the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Eph. 1:3-7.)
“He that spared not his only Son but
delivered him up for us all, how shall we not with him also freely give us all
things?” (
What shall I render unto God for all his
benefits? Paul answers, “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this
world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:1-2.) David said to Araunah, “Nay, but I will
surely buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the
Lord my God or that which doth cost me nothing.” (2 Sam. 24:24.) Jesus answered, “And whosoever doth not bear
his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27.)
Question #2
Another question is, “Why are (were) so
many not thankful?” It is strange
indeed that so many live their lives not expressing gratitude to the Almighty
and to others who provide so many benefits for them. Jesus asked concerning the nine lepers who
were healed, “Were there not ten cleansed?
But where are the nine?” (Luke
17:17.) That is a penetrating question
to ask this Thanksgiving season—Where are the nine?? Paul explained why many of the Gentiles were
not thankful: “Because that, when they
knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain
in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened; professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
(
Perhaps we will never really know why so
many do not give thanks or live gratefully to God. Whatever the reason, we should not follow
their examples. We should rather follow
the examples of the believers throughout the centuries who bowed in humble
submission and thankfulness to God.
Those who do not will answer for this glaring failure of ingratitude.
Charles Spurgeon said of the sin of
ingratitude: “I cannot say anything much worse of a man that he is not thankful
to those who have been his benefactors; and when you say that he is not
thankful to God, you have said about the worst thing you can say of him.” (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit,
“Inexcusable Irreverence and Ingratitude,” 5, www.spurgeion.org/sermons.) Shakespeare wrote that the winter wind is not
so unkind as man’s ingratitude. “Blow,
blow, thou winter wind, thou art not so unkind as man’s ingratitude. Thy tooth is not so keen, because thou art
not seen, although thy breath be rude.”
(Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind)
Mary Magdalene showed her gratitude for
Jesus healing her. The Samaritan leper
turned back and praised God. Paul served
God faithfully after he was forgiven of such devastation to the church. He thanked the Lord for putting him into the
ministry; he served humbly saying that he was the least of the saints and the
greatest of sinners.
Question #3
A third question is, Should we give
thanks for difficulties in life?
Should we really be thankful for everything that happens to us, even the
bad things? When Paul referred to his
“thorn in the flesh,” God responded without removing it by saying, My grace is
sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul concluded, “Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10.)
There are blessings in disguise even in the
difficulties of life. There is an old saying that is true—Strong oaks grow
where strong winds blow. Paul said to
the beloved brethren at
Someone might ask, Does this include
death? Paul earlier answered, “I am in a
strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is
far better. Nevertheless to abide in the
flesh is more needful for you.” (Phil.
1:23-24.) “Be careful (anxious) for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your request be made known unto God.”
(Phil. 4:6.) “Pray without
ceasing. In everything give thanks for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess. 5:17-18.) Even in the most difficult circumstances of
life, we can find many things for which we should be thankful. “And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.” (
Thank God
Thank God for life!
E’en though it bring much bitterness and strife
And all our fairest hopes be wrecked and lost
E’en though there be more ill than good in life
We cling to life and reckon not the cost
Thank God for life!
Thank God for love!
For though sometimes grief follows in its wake
Still we forget love’s sorrow in love’s dear sake
Only in heaven is bliss without alloy
Thank God for love!
Thank God for pain!
No tear hath ever yet been shed in vain
And in the end each sorrowing heart shall find
No curse, but blessings in the hand of pain
Even when he smitteth, then is God most kind
Thank God for pain!
Thank God for death!
Who touches anguished lips and stills their breath
And giveth peace unto each troubled breast
Grief flies before thy touch, O blessed death
God’s sweetest gift; thy name in heaven is Rest
Thank God for death!
Author unknown
Question #4
Are there some things for which we should
not thank God? Yes. The Pharisee and publican went up into the
temple to pray. The infamous words of
the Pharisee were: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other
men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of
all that I possess.” (Luke 18:11-12.) This is an amazingly ill-advised thing for
which to give thanks. No one should be
thankful that they are sinful. Muslim
extremists should not be thankful that they have murdered countless innocent
people. No one should boast over their
misuse of the tongue in speaking rudely to other people. Some misguided souls glory in their
sinfulness. We ought not, therefore, to
be thankful that we are sinful or self-righteous. Note that the publican did not thank God that
he was sinful. He humbly bowed his head
ashamed of his sinfulness. He prayed,
“God be merciful to me a sinner.”
There is so much misdirected gratitude. When the orator began his accusations against
the apostle Paul before Felix the governor, he said, “Seeing that by thee we
enjoy great quietness and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by
thy providence. We accept it always and
in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.” (Acts 24:2-3.) This is the only time that the word,
providence, actually occurs in the Bible (Greek or English versions), and it is
said in reference to a pagan governor.
Often rulers were thought of in exalted ways, equal to one of the
gods. You recall what the people said
about Herod. He sat on his throne
dressed in royal apparel and made an oration.
The people said that his was not the voice of a man, but rather the
voice of a god. When he accepted that
praise, God smote him that he died, because he gave not God the glory. (Acts 12:21-23.)
Conclusion
For what things should I be thankful? As we have already noted, “In everything give
thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess. 5:18.) The Psalmist wrote, “Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his
name.” (Psalm 100:4.)
One thing that Christians should be thankful
for is being called into one body. “And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts to which also you are called in one body and be ye thankful.” (
Secondly, we should be thankful for the
unspeakable gift of God’s son. (2 Cor.
9:15.) In Romans 5:15-17, in three
passages, redemption is said to be a gift from God five times. Paul calls it a free gift, the gift by grace,
and the gift of righteousness in these passages. Giving thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ
seems so little; but there is no greater wrong than to fail to express our
gratitude for Him. Without Jesus, the
world would be without hope. Without his
pure blood, sins could not be atoned.
There is no substitute for him; no one can stand in his place, not even
Moses or Elijah. (Matt. 18:7.)