Whom should we thank?

by Steve Cornell

 

The smell of Thanksgiving is filling our house. Soon we’ll gather with those dear to us and share an amazing meal prepared by an even more amazing woman—my wife. Thanksgiving is a special time of year. I can’t begin to fully imagine what it meant to the pilgrims. I am sure it included family, special dinners, laughter and memory sharing. Barely surviving their first winter, these settlers knew a much harder life than most of us could imagine. After their first harvest, Governor William Bradford designated a day for thanksgiving and prayer. Later this became an official part of our national life. With all the disconcerting changes in our nation, I thank God that we continue to acknowledge this day of thanksgiving.

 

Yet in our national movement away from the God of the early settlers, if we observe Thanksgiving, whom should we thank? Should we thank ourselves? Do we thank our lucky stars? I fear that in their hearts many identify with Bart Simpson’s grace before meals: “Dear God, we paid for all this ourselves, so thanks for nothing.” We are wise to remember that, “rebellion against God does not begin with the clenched fist of atheism but with the self-satisfied heart of the one for whom ‘thank you’ is redundant” (Os Guinness). 

According to our first President, Thanksgiving was “… to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country …” (George Washington, October 3, 1789).

 

An ancient Jewish saying reminds us that, “He that gets enjoyment out of the world without giving thanks, has committed a sacrilege; he has defrauded the Lord.” There is nothing inherently wrong with the customs associated with the Thanksgiving. Visiting relatives, turkey dinners, football games and even special bargains at the stores should be further cause for thankfulness to God.

 

Some find it hard to be thankful because of the suffering and difficulties they have experienced. Life in a fallen world can be cruel and painful. Scripture requiring us to “Give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18), are hard to follow when our circumstances seem unbearable. How can we give thanks when we hurt so much? 

C.S. Lewis wisely suggested that, “We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is ‘good,’ because it is good, if ‘bad’ because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.” Another noticed that, “Some people complain that God put thorns on roses, while others praise him for putting roses on thorns.” When life is difficult it is hard to lift our voices in thanksgiving. Yet if we lose our ability to be grateful because of our suffering, we double our loss. Good things flourish in thankful hearts.  

A renewed discipline of gratitude is the best formula to shake the spirit of discouragement. Ellen Vaughn, in her insightful book, Radical Gratitude, suggested that, “Few of us want to cozy up to the fact that most often God changes us in the process of ordinary day-to-day dependence on him.” When we “engage in the perpetual dialogue of gratitude,” we “turn the tide, rather than follow along on the lazy downward spiral of negativity.”

 

“What I have found,” Vaughn wrote, “is that the rhythm of divine renewal beats in the pulse of a purposefully grateful heart.” I need this divine renewal when my heart is despondent. This is why I need to be reminded of the deep connection between divine renewal and a thankful heart.  

 

Prosperity is often a greater threat to gratitude than hardship. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly expressed concern that his people would forget him in their prosperity — and they did!

The lesson from this offers a profound warning to America. Because we are unquestionably the most prosperous nation in the world the dangerous sin of ingratitude lurks at our door.  God has shed amazing grace on our nation. How can we fail to bow before him in humble thanksgiving? This was the original purpose of Thanksgiving.

 

Personally, I use three categories for practicing thanksgiving: spiritual, relational and material blessings. The psalmist wrote, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). 

 

Post Script: Tonight, as I gather with my Church family in the fireside room for our Thanksgiving meeting, I will feel the loss of a dear friend who was with us last year. Dr. Mark Hassel went home to be with our Lord in January of this year. I will always cherish his memory. For his story, see: http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/03/20/tribute-to-a-courageous-doctor-and-friend/  ________________________________________
Steven W. Cornell
Senior Pastor
Millersville Bible Church
58 West Frederick St.
Millersville, PA  17551