Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Paul the great church planter, pastor and theologian wrote these words to a church in Thessalonica in the middle of the first century AD. Most likely the first letter to the Thessalonians is the earliest writing of the New Testament.
Depending upon how we read it, it might come off as a trite saying or words of advice often found in fortune cookies. It is much more than that. Paul’s preaching and deep faith caused him to be persecuted, beaten and arrested. He lived a ‘hand to mouth’ existence and relied upon the kindness of Christians to house and feed him. Paul was on the move and far from home. The people of Thessalonica oppressed and jailed Christians. The church in Thessalonica whisked Paul out of town to save him from further persecution. When the townspeople heard that Paul moved onto Berea to preach; they sent people down there to stir up trouble for him and the message he brought. (Acts 17)
Yet in the face of all that trouble, Paul writes (and lived out), “give thanks in all circumstances.” Paul encouraged the church to do something he continually lived out.
Job (from the Old Testament) lost everything: family, fortune and health… circumstances that would break the spirit of most people. However, after all the tragedy Job endured he proclaimed, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:21
Paul and Job could say these things because they lived that message out in their lives.
I however am not telling you to be grateful. By all accounts I live a privileged life. Not only because I live in California in a National Park. Compared to Paul and Job my whole life has been easy. Even the hardest moments in my life don’t compare to what they went through. I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone to be grateful. I do feel comfortable asking people to consider why we as Christians should be grateful.
Gratitude must come from within. It cannot be imposed or commanded from the outside. Considering the example of Job and Paul, I am ashamed when I think of the times that I am upset and ‘put out’ by the minor inconveniences of life. Most of these instances can be truly called “1st world problems.” In other words, people in truly dire circumstances (in other parts of the world) would be THANKFUL to be in my shoes.
As I said, thankfulness can’t be forced. It should be cultivated from within. Yes, we should be thankful when good things happen and we should say “Thank you” to people who do nice things for us, however Paul and Job show us where our gratitude should be directed: at God and for God.
We all will experience moments of great joy and inexpressible sorrow. That is the human condition. Yet it is God who breaks into our world and says to us, “I will always be with you. No matter what happens, I will be there.” Circumstances will change, but God and the promise of God does not. That is where my thankfulness lies. Knowing that life will have its ups and downs, I cannot place my trust or my gratitude in ever-changing situations. For me, I can only be thankful for the one thing that doesn’t change in my life: Jesus Christ.
I am reminded of the words of Isaiah 43. Truly they are God’s words, Isaiah wrote them down.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”
May you have a blessed Thanksgiving. Give thanks to the One who walks beside you.
Pr. Ben