TOMORROW is Thanksgiving, a holiday of special import for Believers. We should be the
most grateful people on the planet. An ungrateful Christian is a contradiction
in terms. The grounds of our gratitude are twofold.
First,
we will never get what we deserve. Jesus took it in our place. Motivated by
extravagant love he solved our greatest problem, alienation from God.
Second,
we are grateful because God is both sovereign and good. Whether pleasant or
painful he is in absolute control of every event that overtakes us. In other
words, God works all thing together for the good of those who love him (Rom.
8:28). Therefore, we can count it all joy when we experience trials of various
times (James 1:2). For these reasons Paul commands us, whether rain or shine, to
overflow with thanksgiving (Col 2:7) giving thanks to God the Father through
him” (Col 3:17).
In
addition, you should do this for selfish reasons. In a recent Christianity Today article Molie
Hemingway lets us in on the benefits. “Studies show that grateful people are
happier and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. They are
more forgiving and supportive than those who are ungrateful. They are less
depressed, stressed, envious, and anxious. In fact, high levels of gratitude
explain more about psychological well-being than 30 of the most commonly
studied personality traits, according to two recent studies published in the
journal Personality and Individual Differences.”
Thomas Brooks, one of the 17th Century Puritans, said it this way. Is not Christ your treasure? Is not
heaven your inheritance—and will you murmur? Has not God given you a
changed heart, a renewed nature, and a sanctified soul—and will you
murmur? Has He not given you Himself to satisfy you, His Son to save
you, His Spirit to lead you, His grace to adorn you, His
covenant to assure you, His mercy to pardon you, His righteousness to
clothe you—and will you murmur? Has He not made you a friend, a
son, a brother, a bride, an heir—and will you murmur? When you
were dead, did not He quicken you? When you were lost, did not He seek
you? When you were wounded, did not He heal you? When you were
falling, did not He support you? When you were down, did not He raise
you? When you were staggering, did not He establish you? When you
were erring, did not He correct you? When you were tempted, did not He
support you? and when you went in dangers, did not He deliver you?—and
will you murmur? What! You who are so highly advanced and exalted above
many thousands in the world? Murmuring suits none so badly as saints.”