The scriptures say, “IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD!”
Notice, the Psalmist not only says it is good thing to give thanks but he also tells us who we are to give thanks to…UNTO THE LORD!!!
You would think everyone knew this but in the world in which we live there is ample proof this is not the case.
Some think of Thanksgiving as a time that we:
• “Gobble 'till we wobble."
? "Slurp 'till we burp."
• However, the older I get I personally I stay away from natural foods. At my age I need all the preservatives I can eat.
• We all indulge more than we should at the thanksgiving table. My favorite vegetable is carrot cake!
As a Bible-believing Christian you know thanksgiving is much more than just a day for eating food, watching football, visiting with the family. All these are by-products of Thanksgiving.
There are some things we POSITIVELY KNOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING!!!
Illus: When I think about the things we know about Thanksgiving I think about the story of the hardware store owner who had a parrot that he put out in front of his hardware store each day as the customers walk by each day. Each day as the folks would come walking down the sidewalk this parrot would talk to them saying things like, “Good morning,” or “How do you do?”
But one day one lady came down the street on her way to work and the parrot was not nice to her.
He said to her “Hey Lady! You are the ugliest woman in town!”
Naturally, she was offended and walked on down the street sadly.
The next day the same thing happened. In fact, it happened for six days and she decided to put a stop to these insults. “Lady, you are the ugliest woman in town!”
So the next time the parrot did this she went inside and talked to the owner and told him what the parrot was saying to her each day.
The owner apologized for the parrot’s rude behavior and told her he would put a stop to it and promised never again would this parrot be so rude to her.
He punished the parrot severely!
The next day he was perched on his little limb when she came walking down the street and got within speaking range the parrot looked at her and said to her, “Hey, Lady you know!!!”
There are somethings we KNOW about Thankgiving.
For example, I want to talk to you about some things YOU KNOW about thanksgiving, such as-
I. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE OUGHT NOT DO.
That is, we ought not live a life of INGRATITUDE.
We all know people who have so much to be thankful for but they choose each day to complain about so many things.
Do yourself a favor, stay away from people like this…when you see them run as fast as you can to keep from being around people like this.
Being grateful is not a gift that we are born with.
It is something that we have to teach ourselves if our parents have not taught us.
Illus: When someone gives a child a piece of candy Mom or Dad says to the child, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE NICE MAN!!!
It is sad to say that many have never learned to be grateful for the blessings of life. NEVER!!!
Illus: Dr. H. A. Ironside was in a crowded restaurant when a man he knew came and sat down to eat with him. Then, as was his custom, Dr. Ironside bowed his head in prayer of gratitude.
? After his prayer the other man acknowledge he never prayed before a meal.
? Dr Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does also!"
Illus: You can walk into most restaurant to get a good meal. But while you are waiting for your food to be brought to you it is absolutely amazing as you look at others when there food is brought to them they tear into their meals like a bunch of pigs.
Some folks live like a brute beast.
There was a time when this nation had kind and grateful people and they showed that kindness to others in many ways.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS NATION TO MAKE THIS NATION UNGRATEFUL?
Illus: Let me ask you something: What happens to a child who becomes the recipient of many things from the parents and who never has to do anything to earn those things. That child becomes what we call a spoiled brat!
Soon the child can not be given enough and feels he is entitled to everything he has been given and much more.
In this great country in which we live God the Father has spoiled us with His many blessings. We should be grateful, but many today are not thankful.
For example:
? Some have attended a church for many years and that church had provided their spiritual needs and, in many cases, physical needs. But they are so ungrateful they will walk away from that church and attend a church that has never done anything for them.
? Many have had parents that provided for them for many years and they will walk away from them and seem to literally forget about them.
They do not seem to realize "The instant they were born, they already owed someone for nine months of free room and board.”
In I Thess. 5:18, we read, “In EVERY THING give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
There is one thing we know about this society in which we live and that is that this nation is filled with ingratitude!
Perhaps before this nation can learn to be grateful God may have to withdraw some of these blessings and then we might begin to appreciate them again.
Illus: For example, in Budapest, a man goes to the rabbi and complains to the rabbi, "Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?"
• The rabbi answers, "Take your goat into the room with you." The man said, “Rabbi we already have nine people in the house!!!”
? The rabbi said. "Do as I say and come back in a week."
? A week later the man comes back looking more distraught than before. "We cannot stand it," he tells the rabbi. "The goat is filthy."
? The rabbi then tells him, "Go home and let the goat out. And come back in a week."
? A radiant man returns to the rabbi a week later, exclaiming, "Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of it now that there's no goat -- only the nine of us."
Remember the 10 lepers that came to the Lord?
He healed all ten of them, but only one returned in gratitude.
Jesus asked, “WHERE ARE THE NINE?”
Listen, God is so good to us we have let ourselves become spoiled.
So, one thing we are reminded of at Thanksgiving time is that we live in an ungrateful society.
When it comes to Thanksgiving there are some things WE OUGHT NOT TO DO, but also-
II. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO.
Notice, our text begins this way, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” (Psalm 92:1)
There is always something for which we can give thanks unto the Lord. ALWAYS!!!
Illus: This reminds me of the story of an ungodly man who came to know Christ. Before he was saved he was known for having an evil temper and the foul language he would frequently use.
However, he was gloriously saved and the news of his conversion spread among his many coworkers at his job. A group of men decided to “test” his religion. They hid his lunch box. Lunch time came and they all waited to hear the profanity that would usually come from his lips.
To their surprise he said, “Praise the Lord! At least I still have an appetite.”
IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS!!!
There are two kinds of people in the church today.
A. ACCORDING TO SOME, THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A GOOD DAY IN THEIR LIFE TO BE THANKFUL FOR…NEVER!!!
Some folks are chronic complainers!
Illus: For example, there is are people all over this nation. You can see them coming and if you make the mistake of asking them how they are doing, you’d better not be in a hurry because it is going to take some time for them to tell you how they hurt from the top of her head to the soles of feet.
They are like a BROKEN RECORD!!!
Ask them six months again, and you will hear that broken record over all again!
Illus: A man who was always complaining his wife called Dr. Odell Belger and he could tell on the telephone it was a serious call. He immediately went to her house and there was a bunch of cars in the yard. He approached the house and she met him in the yard with these words, “Preacher, he finally did it!” Dr. Belger said, “What did he do?” She said, “He has been saying for the last 45 years he was dying and he has finally did it!”
Many have become chronic complainers. Every work place and every church has them.
Illus: That is:
• The weather is always too warm or too cold,
• The boss is a jerk,
• The food is lousy,
• Everyone is an idiot.
? You can tell them it is a beautiful day and they will say, “Yes, but it is supposed to rain tomorrow.”
? You can tell them that a glass is half full and they will say, “Yes, but is it also half empty.”
Someone said, “The pessimist is a person who absorbs sunshine and radiates gloom.”
They cannot find a thing to be thankful for because all they can see are the bad things that happen.
The reason they cannot see the good things is because all they look for are the bad things.
Illus: A man one day was talking to Dr. Odell Belger about a woman that attends his church sometimes.
• He said, “Why is it she always looks like she is sad and mad!”
• Dr. Belger said, “That is simple, she always looks like that because she is always sad and mad!”
Some folks, it seems, have never had a good day in their life! They are always grumbling about something!
Illus: A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
? "Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"
? "We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"
? "Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?”
? "We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called ‘Teste.’"
? "Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it’s gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump."
? "We're going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope."
? "That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. “You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant.”
? “Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."
? A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.
? "It was wonderful," explained the woman, "Not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food was wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot.
? And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"
? "Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."
? "Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me.
? Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand and he spoke a few words to me."
? "Oh, really! What'd he say?"
? He said: "You need to get you a new hair dresser, your hair looks terrible?"
Some folks have nothing but bad things to say.
But one thing you can say about them, when God created the cock roaches, and rats He created them the same day!
God must have put them here on earth for a purpose because it is such a blessing when you do not have to be around them. Absolutely!!!
However, thank the Lord…
B. SOME ARE A JOY TO BE AROUND BECAUSE THEY VERY RARELY HAVE A BAD DAY.
Some choose to constantly be GIVING THANKS!!!
Do they have problems?
Sure they do.
They have as many problems as the next person, but they have discovered that life is too short to live on the DARK SIDE of life. They prefer to live on the BRIGHT SIDE and be thankful for all the good things.
A thankful attitude helps us keep our eyes fixed on the brighter side of life.
The Word of God says, IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THANKS!!!
Listen, complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives. Complaining makes us miserable.
Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Instead of looking at the negatives in our lives and complaining, we must look for the positive and give thanks.
I Thess. 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
OUR SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION SHOULD BE -- GOD IS A GOOD GOD!
Illus: Some years ago, a cartoon pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food in a bowl.
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. 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."
The Bible says, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...”
The Psalmist is absolutely right! “IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD EVERY DAY.”
III. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO DAILY.
Look at Psalm 92:2. We read, “To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.”
We certainly should give thanks unto the Lord on the Lord’s Day.
In Psalm 100:4-5, we read, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
When we enter the church building we should have a praise on our lips and when we leave we should have another praise!
Notice, the Psalmist mentions two times to “show forth” our gratitude.
Not only on Sunday, but every day we should have gratitude for the blessings of God.
A. In the morning.
This is one of the best times to offer up thanksgiving to the Lord.
Illus: Someone said, “Every day we wake up life is like a resurrection.”
From the depths of sleep, we rise up to serve the Lord.
One day the sun will rise and we will not be here, but for now, every day that God allows us to open our eyes and enjoy another day with our FAMILY and FRIENDS we should start the day off with THANKSGIVING.
IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD IN THE MORNING.
It is good also to give thanks unto the Lord...
B. In the evening.
Every day we have things we can be thankful for!
Illus: The young man was feeling very proud of himself. As a brand new college graduate he had taken the C.P.A. exams and passed with flying colors. Now he was a full-fledged Certified Public Accountant.
His father had been an immigrant to the U.S., and now owned his own little business.
Filled with self-importance, the young man began to criticize his father’s way of keeping books. He said, “Dad, you don’t even know how much profit you’ve made. Over here in this drawer are your accounts receivable. Over there are your receipts and you keep all your money in the cash register. You don’t have any idea how much money you’ve made.”
The father answered, “Son, when I came to this country the only thing I owned was a pair of pants. Now, your brother is a doctor, your sister is an art teacher, and you are a C.P.A. Your mother and I own our home. We have a car and we own this little business. Now add that up, subtract the pants and all the rest is profit.”
We can find something to thank the Lord if we look for the blessings He bestow upon us.
Illus: One morning after a terrible snowstorm, Susan was outside shoveling her driveway. She stopped to wave hello to her neighbor, and he asked her why her husband wasn’t out there helping her with the chore.
She explained that one of them had to stay inside to take care of their five children, so they drew straws to see who would go out and shovel.
"Sorry about your bad luck," he said. Susan replied, "Don’t be sorry. I won!"
Every evening it should be a set thing that we do before we close our eyes to take a few minutes to do a little self-examination and “Count Our Blessings and Name Them One By One” and give thanks unto the Lord.
If we counted all the blessings of God on our lives at the end of each day before we went to sleep we would see that they far out numbered the trials we have had to face.
The Bible says,
? “IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD...”
? And IT IS A “DAILY THING.” WE SHOULD GIVE THANKS EVERYDAY!!!
Conclusion:
The secret of a happy life is not to get what you want but to live with and be thankful for what you have.
Everyone here has so much to be thankful for each day.
It is a good thing to give thanks…let us quit complaining and start thanking the Lord for His many blessings.
I. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE OUGHT NOT DO.
II. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO.
III. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO DAILY.
