Thankful, All Day, Every Day
In this country we are swiftly approaching the Thanksgiving holiday. We all probably look forward to the day, the holiday, the food, the time with family, or whatever tradition(s) we take part in for the holiday. I understand that there are four other nations, and multiple territories that also celebrate Thanksgiving. Contrary to the belief of some, this is not a holiday or celebration that originated in America. In fact, in 1619, before this nation was formed, a group of thirty-eight English settlers, having traveled to the “New World”, participated in a religious celebration of thanksgiving.
This celebration was “specifically dictated by the group's charter from the London Company. The charter declared: "that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.” (Underlined and italicized info from Wikipedia.) Additional info from this source deals with our present day “Thanksgiving” holiday. We are told: The 1621 Plymouth, Massachusetts thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. The Pilgrims celebrated this with the Wampanoags, a tribe of Native Americans who, along with the last surviving Patuxat, had helped them get through the previous winter by giving them food in that time of scarcity, in exchange for an alliance and protection against the rival Narragansett tribe.
Of course, the Thanksgiving holiday, while now officially celebrated in this country on the last Thursday of November, has been observed on various dates and has several different traditions attached to it. Perhaps because the harvest is different in certain areas of the country, different foods are favored for the holiday in various regions. Not surprisingly, given the mindset of much of our population today, many traditions associated with this holiday are not even sanctioned by God.
But what of us who love God, and all who claim to serve God? Can we say we love God, and fail to show gratitude for all He has done and all He has given for our well-being? To the best of my knowledge, the Words gratitude and ingratitude aren’t found in the Bible. However, we find the Word ‘thanksgiving’ twenty-eight times in the Bible and the phrase ‘giving of thanks’ three times in the New Testament. Is this not sufficient evidence that God desires gratitude from those He has graciously blessed?
In the first chapter of Romans, the brethren there were warned about the wrath of God ‘against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness’ (verse 18). Then verse 21 tells why some had come to be in such a condition. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. The resulting actions of those who were “unthankful” are listed, and “vile affections” is an inspired and suitable description. The remainder of the chapter tells of despicable mindsets and actions, concluding with the fact that “they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (verse 32).
The first time “thanks” is found in Scripture is 2Sam. 22:50. David had been delivered from Saul, and his song of gratitude was recorded. As he concluded his song, he said: “Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.” We are also aware of the instruction in Psa. 100:4-5, as the Spirit had the psalmist pen the Words: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
This “mercy” in the New Testament age is God’s great plan of Salvation which first was proclaimed in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 33. It tells how to become a Christian. A Christian is one “born into” the family of God, only through the plan God has put forth in His New Testament Word. There are several verses that speak to this, as well as the instruction to God’s children to be thankful. One such passage is Col. 3:15. When one is obedient to the gospel they are “called into one body”, (the church for which Christ died). Therefore, they should be very “thankful”.
However, not all will be thankful. In 2Tim. 3:1-5, as the Spirit had Paul describe the “perilous times” which are part of the “last days” (which we are now in), being “unthankful” is found in the midst of the contemptable actions of those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth”, (vs 7). On the other hand, 1Cor. 15:57 instructs those who have come to a knowledge of the truth (obeyed the gospel), that they have every reason to be thankful, because they are given “victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Therefore, All Day, Every Day, is the time for the Christian to be thankful. The brethren of Thessalonica were reminded of this in 1Thess. 5:18. Does not “every thing” include that which occurs “all day”? In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Seek to know and do God’s Will (obey the gospel). Then serve Him faithfully all the days of your life, being Thankful, All Day, Every Day, as we look forward to eternity with God.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
