When we read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it tells us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus Concerning you.” We are also told in Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Has the question every crossed your mind of what the benefit of doing so is? Perhaps you even have thought what do I get out of it. I know such a thing would seem quite presumptuous for a child of God to do but without questioning things you receive no answers. God is not so fickle that he will fall off the throne just because there is an earnest desire for truth. We are going to explore just what those benefits are briefly.
First of all, lets delve into the meaning of the word thanks in the original language its written in this passage. In the Greek, the word used here is eucharistéō pronounced (yoo-khar-is-teh'-o) meaning to be grateful, express gratitude or say grace such as for a meal. Simply put God’s will for us is to be grateful for everything always. Before I go further being grateful does not equate to jumping up and down for joy but more so accepting with humility. The opposite of being grateful would be being filled with bitterness, contempt and complaining which would result in blaming God for unpleasant circumstances.
One more thing I would like us to discuss is the subject of why we give thanks in general terms. We give thanks because we have received something, or something has been done. It does not matter if we asked for it or not it is just a matter of being respectful of the act done or thing being given. It is an acknowledging of the effort put forth by the other party to consider us when they took the time to think about us rather than themselves. So, in other words we are naturally conditioned to do so after something has been done for us. If we don’t consider those conditions to be met it is difficult for us to feel the desire to be thankful. With that said, has God met those conditions in everything and always?
First of all let me ask you if you will yourself the day before to wake up the next morning regardless of whether you use an alarm or not does that mean that you are guaranteed to wake up?
I am sure you would like to pride yourself with many scenarios in which the answer may be yes but you already know that it is not will power, your alarm clock or anything that you have done on your own that will guarantee that you will be alive and well the next day. It does not matter how great your plans are the next day, that is not enough to ensure you will live through the night. It is by the grace or unmerited favor of God that we all survive the night and see the next day. He does not owe you or I our next breath, so how much more would he owe us another day? You wake up because he allows it to be so. Therefore, it is only a natural gesture of our respect unto him at the very least to be grateful, regardless of what awaits us that day.
So, what about during our time of suffering and trial? Have you every prayed when you are going through hardship and felt like God had forgotten you? Surely that is nothing to thank him for, right? Hold on thar a moment. When we turn to Romans 8 Paul asks us a powerful question in verse 35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Then he makes a powerful statement in verse 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Okay stop for a moment and realize that him that loved us is the same God that loved the world and gave us his only begotten son as it says in John 3:16. Also that same Jesus whom is the express image of his person, upholds all things by the word of his power, and purged our sins as it tells us in Hebrews 1:3. Not only does he love us also but he gives us the strength to do all things such as being more than a conqueror as we read in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” In other words, we give thanks during those moments when it seems like we have been abandoned because God is enabling us to endure that hardship as well as to overcome it. One place we find evidence of this also is in Philippians 4: 6,7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. In the Greek, the word used for heart is referring more so to the thoughts while the word used for minds is of the soul itself or inner man in this passage. Lastly the word guard in the Greek used there means like that of a watchman protecting a place or thing. Therefore by forsaking a focus on being anxious about the various things in our lives and instead seeking God through prayer, requests and thanksgiving he protects our minds from being overwhelmed as well as keeps our souls from being swallowed up in actions that would put us in violation.
While much more could be said I hope I have made it plain that God has already met the conditions for being thanked by us in all things and in everything. It has nothing to do with how we feel but with what he has already done and is doing in our lives. I encourage you my brother and sister in Christ not to be deceived by the flesh but go to the passages that have been provided and meditate on the marvelous things God is and has done for you that you may reap the benefits of a heart filled with thanksgiving toward him for all things. It is not a matter of possibility but a matter of fact that God will keep our hearts and minds as we seek him in prayer when things are disturbing us. He is enabling us to suffer through every hardship whether we can feel it, see it, or realize it or not. This is where faith trumps sight. God never fails nor can he and his word will not return unto him empty. As his children we always have much to be thankful for.
Finally, as we bring this to a close Hebrews 12;2 says Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was thankful for the opportunity to lay down his life for us for the salvation it would result in for many, yet he was not joyful about the shame he would suffer in the process. Nor does God expect you to be hopping for joy during those times of trial and hardship but he does expect our gratitude for all that he has done and is doing for us in those times as we have briefly discussed. So, consider the many things you have to be thankful for in Christ as we enter into this Thanksgiving week.
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