Millions of Americans are about to celebrate the day of Thanksgiving. “Thanksgiving” means different things to different people. Most Americans likely think of a specific day in November when they hear the word “thanksgiving.” It is traditionally a day for gathering with family and eating a turkey dinner. Family members have an opportunity to visit. Football fans may think of watching football when they think of “thanksgiving.” Others have a more historical perspective and attach more of a national or religious significance to Thanksgiving. To many hunting enthusiasts, Thanksgiving typically involves a rabbit or deer hunt before or after the Thanksgiving meal. Thus the “day” of Thanksgiving means different things to different people, depending upon one’s culture and tradition.
There is, however, a “thanksgiving” that is not tied to any certain day in November or to any particular human traditions. This type of “thanksgiving” is far more serious and important than special meals and traditions. I have reference to man’s response to the favors, blessings and benefits that are bestowed by God. The Bible believer understands thanksgiving as something that is to be regularly directed to God. The apostle Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Sadly, too many people think only of their requests and petitions of God when they think of prayer. Paul said, “Continue earnestly in prayer; being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). Several other New Testament passages mention “thanksgiving.” Let us consider a few things for which we should be regularly thankful:
1. We should be thankful for our food. Jesus regularly thanked God for His food (Mark 8:6; Jn. 6:11, 23…etc). Just before the shipwreck at Malta, the apostle Paul and the sailors had a meal. Paul “gave thanks to God in the presence of them all” prior to their meal (Acts 27:35). We are told that “every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim. 4:3, 4).
2. We should be thankful for God’s plan of salvation. Paul told the Corinthians, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). According to the first few verses of this same chapter, this saving plan is revealed through the gospel (vs. 1-3). We must “receive” the gospel in order to be saved. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1, He had earlier preached the gospel to these Corinthian saints. This occasion is recorded in book of Acts, and it tells us the response that they had to that preaching, “Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
3. We should be thankful that God’s word is understandable. As illustrated in the above story of the Corinthian conversions, God’s instructions can be understood. Paul told the Colossian saints, “Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7). Paul plainly tells us that God’s word can be understood (Ephesians 3:3-5), and we should thank God for making His otherwise unfathomable wisdom and knowledge known to mankind.
4. We should be thankful for faithful brethren. The apostle Paul often thanked God for other Christians (Ephesians 1:16; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2…etc). Titus, Timothy, Epaphroditus and others are particularly acknowledged for their care for other saints (2 Corinthians 8:16; Philippians 2:19-25). We may be thankful for other saints because of their love, zeal and courage.
Not all people are thankful. Paul described many as being “unthankful” (2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 1:21). As these texts show, being unthankful is an attitude of the lost. By thanking God, man acknowledges God’s existence and providence. God is also glorified by man’s thanksgiving (2 Cor. 9:13), and man admits his own dependence upon God. Giving thanks to God is an act of faith, for we are instructed to do it (Phil. 4:6). When thinking of “thanksgiving,” let us think of more than just one certain day of the year! Let us think of God.
Tim Haile