Have the Attitude of Gratitude
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Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:6
I have no doubt that everyone is aware that this is the week of Thanksgiving Day. Many of us are looking forward to the day, perhaps having a day or two off from work. Thanksgiving Day is not the usual Holiday for us in America in that it does not celebrate an epic day in history or remember the birth of a famous person or persons, or commemorate the writing of a historic document. Thanksgiving Day in America is given to the remembrance and expression of gratitude for the blessings we have in our lives.
This holiday is one of the few which has not been over-run by commercialism or watered down by secularism, though not for lack of trying. This holiday has a long and somewhat checkered history in our nation. The popular story of the Pilgrims feasting with the natives of the New World is not exactly accurate but what is verifiably true is that the early explorers and settlers of this nation have a history of setting aside time to specifically give thanks to God.
The earliest written record of thanksgiving to God in America occurred in Texas on May 23, 1541 when Spanish explorer, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado held a service of thanksgiving with his company of men after finding food, water, and pasture for their animals in the Panhandle.
There is in fact only one letter, written by a man of Plymouth by the name of Edward Winslow, which records the Pilgrim feast of 1621 but in the letter Winslow gives praise and speaks of the goodness of God and makes clear that the feast was to rejoice in the gathered harvest.
We have many other recorded days of thanksgiving in our history but an annual national observation of Thanksgiving Day first began in 1863 and in 1942 the day was officially set to the fourth Thursday of every November. If there is one thing clear from our history it is that from the earliest days of our nation people in this land have taken time to give praise and thanksgiving to God.
What we need to realize is that this is the way it is to be the people of God everyday. For we who profess to follow the Lord, Thanksgiving Day is not just a time for food, football, and family. It’s not just a holiday every fourth Thursday in November. It’s not limited to a day at all. For God’s people, everyday ought to be a Thanksgiving Day!
I. Continually Offer Up a Sacrifice
A. Of praise and thanks to God
1. Hebrews 13:15 (NASB) Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
2. The scriptures are full of admonitions and commands to give praise and thanks to God (over 500 occurrences of thankfulness in Scripture.)
a. 2 Samuel 22:50 (NASB) “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, And I will sing praises to Your name.
b. 1 Chronicles 16:8 (NASB) Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
c. Psalms 7:17 (NASB) I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
d. Psalms 117:1 - 2 (NASB) Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD! (Quoted by Paul in Romans 15:11.)
e. Ephesians 5:19-20 (NASB) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
f. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB) in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
3. It is recorded in the Talmud (which is a record of rabbinic discussions relating to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history) that, in the time of the Messiah, all sacrifices, except the sacrifice of praise, should cease.
a. (Vayikra Rabba, sect. 9, fol. 153, and Rabbi Tanchum, fol. 55: “Rabbi Phineas, Rabbi Levi, and Rabbi Jochanan, from the authority of Rabbi Menachem of Galilee, said, In the time of the Messiah all sacrifice shall cease, except the sacrifice of praise.”)
b. It was the point of the writer to the Hebrews that the time of the Messiah had come; that Jesus was that Messiah; and that the Jewish sacrificial system was now abolished except the sacrifice of praise.
B. The Fruit of the Lips
1. We no longer sacrifice the blood of animals
a. Christ has offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10:12).
2. Instead, we offer the “fruit of our lips”
a. In this are included all prayers, praise and adoration as well as thanksgiving.
b. These are not to be offered only once each week, in a worship service, or praise service, but continually. “Always giving thanks” (Ephesians 5:20).
II. Keys to the Attitude of Gratitude
A. Being Thankful when times are tough
1. How can you be thankful in tough times? When the economy is not good, when things aren't going your way, when it seems our world is crumbling and falling apart around us, how do you and I be thankful in tough times?
2. The example of the Apostles would tell us yes!
a. We read in the Book of Acts how the Apostles and their associates prayed and sang hymns to God as they sat in their dark cells in prison, how they gave thanks to God after having been beaten, for the privilege of suffering for the sake of Christ.
b. Again and again in his letters, Paul would exhort the churches to thanksgiving.
c. While in prison Paul wrote to the church in Philippi telling of his rejoicing for their support and made the statement: Philippians 4:11 (NASB) Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. (In abundance or need.)
B. Learning to be content
1. Having learned to be content in all circumstances, Paul was able to be thankful in all circumstances.
a. Paul says, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB) in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
b. Is that possible? Is it always to be thankful, no matter what the circumstance?
c. First understand that the verse says “in” everything, not “for” everything. Whatever circumstance you are in, be content and give thanks; this is what Paul had learned.
d. Paul provides us two critical keys to learning this: Philippians 4:6 (NASB) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
2. First: trust in God.
a. “Be anxious for nothing…” (v6a)
b. Do not fret or have any anxiety.' That's easier said than done. It's no sweat to say it but as soon as you're finished saying it, you start worrying about something. When we get up in the morning we get up to an alarm clock. That sets you off in a negative mood in the first place. It's not a comfort clock, it's an alarm clock.
c. The word anxious or worry means to be pulled in different direction; to strangle or choke.
d. Facts about worry: Dr. Walter Calvert did a study and discovered that 40% of your worries never happen; 30% of your worries concern the past (so 70% of your worries are worthless.)
e. 12% of your worries are needless health concerns. Like the hypochondriac who had written on the tombstone, "I told you I was sick!" 10% of your worries are insignificant and petty issues. Only 8% of your worries are actual, legitimate concerns.
f. Those concerns we are to turn over to God, trusting in Him to take care of us: 1 Peter 5:7 (NASB) casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1) The Greek word “casting” invokes the image of throwing a pack onto a beast of burden.
2) We are to “throw” or worry onto God to carry.
g. As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:31-34 trust in God to handle the worries of our lives, focus daily on His kingdom.
3. Pray to Him about everything.
a. …but in everything by prayer and supplication (v6b)
b. Some people say, "I don't have time to pray." If we prayed as much as we worried, we would have a whole lot less to worry. Just pray when you want to worry and you'll find you have plenty of time for prayer.
c. He says "in everything." Not just some things but everything you can pray about it. Some people think God only cares about religious things: God cares about how many people I talk to about Christ or how many people I invite to church, my giving. Is God interested in your car payments? Yes. Is He interested in how your job is going? Yes. Is God interested in your headache? Yes. He's interested in every detail of your life.
d. There is nothing you cannot pray about. If it's worth worrying about, it's worth praying about. There is nothing insignificant to God. You can pray about anything and everything. (supplication: earnestly and humbly.)
4. …with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (v6b)
a. Trusting in Him and constant prayer to Him will lead us to always give thanks to Him.
b. Whether we have a lot or a little, gratitude arises out of our relationship with God.
c. In the end gratitude doesn’t arise out of what we have been given but out of our relationship with God. In fact everything can be taken away from us, and yet we can still be thankful because we have a loving heavenly Father who cares for us and a Savior who loved us so much that he died for us. That is something to be thankful about!
Conclusion
Having an attitude of gratitude begins with contentment which is found through trusting God and keeping in constant prayer to Him.
Invitation
