Title: Having a Commitment to Share Thanks
Text: I Thessalonians 5:18
Introduction:
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Okay, the bible says we are to be thankful in all circumstances of life. “Rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice.” (Philippians 4) However, as we know through experience, the truth of the matter is, circumstances are not always the best. In fact, they may be downright disastrous. Still there are reasons to be thankful. .
Illustration
One morning there was a terrible snowstorm and so here was this mother of three small children outside shoveling snow out of the driveway. A neighbor also shoveling snow at the same time yells out to her, “Why isn’t your husband outside helping you with this chore?” Well, she said, “Someone needed to stay inside with the kids and so we drew straws to see who would go outside and shovel snow.” So the neighbor said, “Well, I’m sorry about your bad luck.” She replied, “Don’t feel sorry for me, I won.” Give thanks to God in all situations of life.
One elderly gentleman finally figured it out after so many years. He said, “I used to think people complained because they had so many problems, but now I’ve come to realize they have problems because they complain.” Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.” David found himself complaining and arguing with God about his sin, his affliction, his distress, and it didn’t do him a bit of good. Complaining doesn’t change anything, it only amplifies frustration, spreads discord and discontent, and can invoke and invitation for the devil to come and cause havoc within our lives.” Philippians 2:13 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” Well, I guess this is my objective for us tonight. To some how shed some light upon what might have been a very gloomy day for us today. If we are not perfect individuals and we are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances of life,” I don’t know about you, but I need some help, so I hope I can guide us to the scriptures tonight so as to become those shining stars in God’s universe by comparison.
Transition:
I have three thoughts to share with you tonight and I realize I have to give it to you in the abbreviated form. I have people here today that know we pretty well. Matter of fact they said, “Don’t be talking for over 30 minutes like you do on Sunday morning.” So, let’s get into it. WE HAVE IT SO GOOD! WE ENJOY IT SO MUCH! WE EXPRESS IT SO LITTLE! There are my three thoughts….
WE HAVE IT SO GOOD
Interpretation
I Tim. 6:17 says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” We have so much that God has given to us.
Illustration
Someone says, “Your mama is so poor, she goes to Kentucky Fried Chicken to lick other people’s fingers.” Or, ”Your mama is so poor, I walked into her house, asked to use the bathroom, and she said “3rd tree to your right.”
Insight
You see, where did you come from? Where we not created by and almighty God? Let me ask you, “How poor were you when you were a child?” I can remember mom and dad, John & Goldie Shepherd didn’t have a lot of money when they lived among you raising their family, but they made due with what they had. Many of us grew up with a whole less than you have now, but that’s no reason to horde those possessions that God has given you. I say as a Christian, “What do you now have that you didn’t have then?”
I Tim. 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant.” You know, I can remember starting out in the full time ministry making 12,000 dollars a year.
I look back upon that time and I say, “Now in the world did my family ever manage to survive? In the 1980’s, 12000, wasn’t a lot of money. However, for some farmers in Kansas in the area that I was serving, those farmers would of loved to have traded places with me. Christian families had lost their family farm, yet they would smile and say, “ God is so good.” Folks, in spite of the hardships we journey through in life, we truly have it so good.
Transition:
He’s thought number two.
WE ENJOY IT SO MUCH
Interpretation
Listen to this we Americans are such a crazy bunch of people. We’ll do almost anything to have fun, and then complain and we can’t get out of bed to go to work on Monday morning, or go to church on Sunday morning because we’re enjoying this life all we can.
Someone said, “We worship our work, work at our play and play at our worship.” That’s a picture that’s very true for many people.
Application
My friends don’t forget 2 Timothy 3:1 is still located in the bible for our enjoyment. Paul say to Timothy, “But mark this Timothy: There will be terrible times in the last days.” What kind of terrible times Paul? Vs. 4,5 – people will become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with God.” Isn’t that a description of our day and age? To which I respond by saying, God has so richly provided for us, and everything we’ve enjoyed, it seems tome we’ve enjoyed too much.
Illustration
One magazine article says, “We have increased sedentary activities for children by 4.5 times since 1950. Thus, many children and adolescents now spend 45 hours each week watching television, working on the computer, playing video games or watching movies.”
According to that article folks, it sound like children and adolescents are enjoying too much of this life. You it’s all right to enjoy the many blessings of God, but not to he point where they become the main focus. I think the bible calls this idolatry. Even as we approach this time of Christmas we are to focus upon the giver and not he gift.
James 1:17 - “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights above in whom there is no change or shifting shadows.” It’s good that everything comes from God, but let’s not for forget God. Brothers and sisters, we have been given so much, we enjoy it so much, but I still think we enjoy it too much.
Transition:
Well, the last though is:
WE EXPRESS IT SO LITTLE
Illustration
Some years ago, the cartoonist pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day, but it was just his usual dog food in a bowl. So, Snoopy took one look at the dog food and said, “This isn’t fair. The rest of the world today is eating turkey with all the trimmings and all I get is dog food. Why? Because I’m a dog all I get is dog food?” He stood there and stared at his dog food for a moment and said, “I guess it could be worse. I could be a turkey.” Folks, whenever we begin to think that life is unfair we need to think again. That’s easy for me to say because I’ve never been through the hardship of loosing a mate, or a child, or a farm, or, starting all over after a fire gutted out my home. I can honestly say I do not know what it is like to say I surrender to those type of circumstances, I only pray I will have the strength to follow where God is leading me as he seeks to pick up the broken shattered pieces of my life if that should happen.
Insight
Guess what? I’m thankful for the taxes I pay because it means I’m employed. I’m thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
I don’t want to rejoice in this next one, but I realize it’s true. I’m thankful for a lawn that
needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home. I thankful for the spot at the end of the parking lot because praise God I’m still capable of walking. And I thankful for the heating bill because it means I will be warm this winter. And all the complaining I hear about our government, and I’m the biggest complainer, it means I have freedom of speech. I’m thankful for the lady that sings off key because I can still hear. Mothers, be thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means you have loved ones near by. And yes be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the morning because it means you’re alive. And oh yes, I probably preached longer than what I should, so be thankful you can still tell time.
Conclusion
Thank you for attention! Thank you that we all together serve a God that loves us so much, let us love him in return.
Prayer:
