Attitude of Gratitude
The topic chosen for the month is Attitude with Gratitude. We all know that Thankfulness is important, but still, it is necessary for us to be constantly reminded about this fact.
I like statistics. So, whenever I get a topic, I try to do some research into it. This time I decided to look into the Bible and see some interesting statistics about Thanksgiving. Let us see how much you know about this. Go along and share your thoughts with me. Just to be clear, I am using NIV this time for my research (Other translations might have minor differences)
What is the first time Thanksgiving is mentioned in the Bible? Actually this came as a surprise to me personally. The books of Genesis and Exodus are full with miraculous signs and wonders and great deeds of God. You would naturally expect that the concept of Thanksgiving is mentioned in these two books many times. However, it is not so. First mention of Thanksgiving in the Bible is in the book of Leviticus. (Leviticus 7:12-15). Isn’t it interesting to note that throughout the book of Genesis and Exodus, the concept of Thanksgiving is not mentioned or recorded. Adam and Eve did not thank God for the beautiful creation that God entrusted to them. Abraham does not seem to have thanked the Lord for giving him a son at his ripe old age. Of course, the concept of worshipping the Lord is mentioned, but not Thanksgiving by itself. The families of Isaac and Jacob contended with the blessings of God, rather than thanking Him for the same. Joseph’s brothers do not thank him or the Lord for the way God made him a big man in Egypt and thereby saved them all from certain death. Not even after the Spectacular miracles of crossing the red sea, or provision of Manna did the Israelites. The more I think about it, the more perplexed I became. Then I thought about our own culture. Before I became a Christian, I never actually gave much importance to Thanksgiving. At my home I never said thank you to my mother or my brothers when they did anything for me. It was all considered their duty. Don’t get me wrong. I was certainly happy with the things that they did to me, or the gifts that they gave me etc. But the formal expression of Thanksgiving never happened. The formal expression of Thanksgiving happened more because of my education, and the so called westernization. But before I became a Christian, the concept of Thanksgiving still remained a formal, nice to do thing. This is an interesting study, and actually can be seen when we contrast Old Testament with New Testament with respect to the concept of Thanksgiving. It is very interesting to note that the concept of Thanksgiving appears first time in the Bible as a law, as a mandatory sacrifice that the Israelites were required to offer. It appears as if God knew about the ungrateful nature of mankind and wanted to institute this concept among mankind through the mosaic covenant of the law.
Let us continue with the statistics, shall we? The next one should be easy. Which book is Thanksgiving mentioned last? Of course it is in Revelation, we cannot go beyond that right? However it is in Rev 11:17, not at the end of the book. Altogether, Thankfulness appears about 370 times in the NIV version of the bible. Don’t confuse it with the word Thanksgiving itself. That word appears much lesser. Which book of the Bible talks about this most? Again , a no brainer, it is the Psalms. (about 78 times). There are about 8 Psalms that are specifically Thanksgiving Psalms. But here again, if we actually leave out David, there are very few places where Thanksgiving is mentioned in Old Testament. Interestingly, after Leviticus the first Bible verse giving thanks is by David in 2 Samuel 22:50. And after David, we find thanks giving only in Ezra and Nehemiah. Even in the book of Job, we do not see this concept highlighted. So basically, with the notable exception of David (Chronicles and Psalms) the concept of Thanksgiving is not a popular topic in the Old testament.
So what does this tell us? Firstly, thankfulness or an attitude of Gratitude is not something that comes naturally to us. Our default wiring is to be ungrateful. Our default setting is to take things for granted and murmur and complain when things do not go right. Our natural tendency is to look at what is wrong, rather than what is good. It is easier to see the glass half empty than half full. We are experts at finding out the wrongs of others. We do not automatically count our blessings.
In contrast, once we shift to the New Testament, we can actually see this concept becoming more prevalent and the expressions of Thanksgiving increase. Almost all books of the New Testament speak about Thankfulness or gratitude. This should not come as a surprise, because as a true leader, Jesus led by example when it came to Thanksgiving. He Thanked the Father before he fed the multitudes. He gave Thanks before he raised Lazarus from the dead. He gave thanks before the last supper. Paul follows Jesus example and gives thanks many times for many things. Most of Paul’s letters start with Thanksgiving.
To me, it means one thing. An attitude of Gratitude is a very Christian thing. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 sums it up for me. “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I want you to read it along with the first time thanksgiving is mentioned in the Bible, Leviticus 7:12. Here Thanksgiving is given as a law under the category of Peace offerings. The Thanks offering is given in thankfulness for some special mercy received, such as recovery from sickness, preservation in a journey, deliverance at sea, redemption out of captivity, all which are specified in Psalm 107, and for them men are called upon to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, Psalm 107: 22. What Paul is telling us 1 Thess 5:18 is that this law is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and hence as Christians we have to give thanks in all situations. We have received grace, we have received mercy, we have received deliverance, we have received healing, we have received wealth, we have received protection, we have received provisions, all because of the finished work on the cross. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
David gave thanks for all the mercies that he received. He gave thanks for saving him and his people from sickness, war, flood, wild animals etc. You and me have a lot more than that. Yes we also have all the normal reasons to Thank god. There are stars in the sky, the sun and the moon. There are muscles in our bodies, there is a ability to hear, that brings this message to us. There is our breath that we take every moment that keeps us alive. There are multiple areas of protection that we get from various dangers out in the world. There is healing available to us, there is food on our tables, there is a shelter that each of us can go to, there are loved ones who we can go back to. Yes there are a zillion reasons for us to thank god. All that we need to do is to count our blessings.
And there is something beyond all that. All religions teach worship, all religions teach prayer. So what is different in Christianity? What difference did Jesus Christ make to our access to God? Jesus Christ removed the separation between Man and God. Jesus Christ made the Holy of Holies accessible to us. Jesus Christ on the cross tore down the curtain that separated the holy of Holies from the common man. Jesus Christ gave us the right to call God our daddy. Jesus Christ made our relationship with God personal. Jesus Christ has promised us a mansion in heaven (John 14:2) . Jesus Christ gives us eternal life. For Christians, Thanksgiving is not a ritual, it is very personal discussion with God. Even our prayers are seasoned with thanksgiving. Paul advises Christians; Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
So this morning, can we shed our natural tendencies to be ungrateful, shall we know that true worship happens with Thankfulness. Shall we accept that an attitude of Gratitude is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us.
Let us pray.
