What Have I Got to be Thankful About???
Have you ever ask yourself, “What have I got to be thankful about?” It’s a simple question. You may feel that you haven’t gotten the breaks your neighbor has. Maybe you think the boss is holding you back. Perhaps you don’t have the house or job you want. Do you ever feel satisfaction with your blessings? Well, today I hope to answer some of these doubts. Join me as we explore the topic, “What have I got to be thankful About?”
With Thanksgiving just a short time away, it seems appropriate that we take time to reflect upon the blessings that God has given us and to offer thanks, praise and worship to our Heavenly Father for His most gracious gifts. Yet there are many that simply don’t see anything to be grateful about.
Unquestionably, the holiday we celebrate today, has undergone some radical alterations since its inception by the Pilgrims more than 300 years ago. What was once a time of celebration and thanksgiving to Almighty God has become a time of watching parades, stuffing our bellies, watching football games and now shopping. We rarely think about our fellow man let alone thank God for His incredible bounty. I have to wonder how God looks at all this.
Ps 95:1-2 says; “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”
Ps 100:4-5 says; “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Phi 4:6 says; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Notice the common thread through these verses of scripture? Thanksgiving! Always approach God with thanksgiving. Thank Him for your blessings, the blessings He has bestowed upon you. Yes, you heard right - He has bestowed upon you!
Now you may be thinking, “Hey! Wait a minute. I earned all those things myself. What does God have to do with anything?”
Let’s take a look at scripture on this point. There are many scriptures about God’s provision and that would probably be several sermons worth of material. So let’s limit our look to these few verses:
Ps 111:4-6 - “He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.”
Acts 14:15-17 - "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."
1 Tim 6:17 - “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.”
Let’s see how other bible versions translate 1 Tim 6:17 :
KJV “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; “
NLT “Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
NASB “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
NKJV “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
There can’t be much doubt that it is God behind your success. It is God that provides you with your talent. It is God that provides you with your education. It is God that provides you with your job. That plasma screen TV, the new car and that turkey sitting on the table? Yep, that’s God blessing you with His abundance.
Often we cover the basics when we thank God. Food, clothing, health, family and a home are high on the list. But the purpose of this sermon is to get you to think more deeply about your blessings. What about the clean water that runs from the tap with the turn of a knob? How about that hot water that runs with the push of a lever? How about sore, aching feet? “Huh?”, you may say, “Why would I thank God for that?” Because it means you can walk!
Thank God for those high gasoline bills because it means you can afford fuel. Thank God for the traffic jam you are sitting in because it means you have transportation. What about that washing machine you have. I think this is one of the most remarkable inventions man has created. Little more than 100 years ago, the method for washing ones dirty clothes was to fill a tub with water that had been heated on the wood stove, put your clothes in the water, add a little lye soap and then plunge them for an hour or so. Can you imagine washing your clothes like that? I doubt there were many people that needed to diet after washing their clothes. Or perhaps you would prefer beating them on rocks at the river like so many people in the world still do. Imagine what a person that is used to washing their clothes this way would think if they saw your washing machine. You put in the dirty clothes, add soap, turn it on and leave. When you come back the clothes are clean! Put them in the dryer, turn it on and leave. Come back and they are dry and ready to be put away! What do you think someone from a third world country would say if they listened to our complaining about how much work it is to do laundry? They would be mystified!
Thank God for the piles of laundry that need ironing? Yes, because it means you have clean clothes to wear! Thank God for those high grocery bills because it. means you have food from almost anyplace in the world on your table. Thank God for those leaves that need raking because it means you have property and you’re out in the sunshine and fresh air. Are your children squabbling in the family room? Thank God because it means they are not out on the street someplace! Is your husband sitting on the couch watching sports? Thank God because it means he is home with you and not out with someone else! Does you wife complain about the housework and cooking? Thank God because it means she is home taking care of her family and not out with someone else!
When we begin to look at our blessings more closely, we begin to see God’s hand in our lives. Do you have a bill for an expensive roof repair? Thank God because it means you have a roof over your head and you could afford to have it repaired. Remember that clean water we spoke of earlier? Think about how many people have a cardboard box to live in with a sewage ditch running outside their front door as their only source of water.
How about that job you don’t like. Thank God because you have a job. Millions of people do not! Pay a lot in taxes? Thank God because it means you have money. Complaining about the government? Thank God He placed you in a country that allows you the freedom to speak your mind!
Thanksgiving is a time of feasting and celebration, no doubt. But it should also be a time of reflection on your life and your place with God. A time to take stock of the blessings that God has so freely given, not because we deserve them but because He loves us so much that He chose to die so that we could live.
So when you are sitting down to that Thanksgiving dinner this year, give pause and think about the blessings you have. List as many as you can. Give a prayer of thanks to the One who is truly responsible for what you have now and enjoy the bounty He has placed on your table. And while you are at it, take an extra moment to give a prayer for those that do not have the blessings that you do, that God will meet their needs and that they will come to know the Lord in a personal and intimate way. A relationship I pray that each and every one of you have with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Father, we are so grateful for all you have given us. We are so undeserving. And yet, even in our sin, you are right there watching over us protecting us and still blessing us. We thank you so much for the people that love us and for the people that we love. We also thank you for the opportunity to help change the lives of others for the better and we pray that we’ll be effective children of God Almighty, blessing others through our words, our deeds and our very thoughts. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen and amen.
May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving this year!
In His name…
© copyright 2005 Church of Hope, Inc.
Have you ever ask yourself, “What have I got to be thankful about?” It’s a simple question. You may feel that you haven’t gotten the breaks your neighbor has. Maybe you think the boss is holding you back. Perhaps you don’t have the house or job you want. Do you ever feel satisfaction with your blessings? Well, today I hope to answer some of these doubts. Join me as we explore the topic, “What have I got to be thankful About?”
With Thanksgiving just a short time away, it seems appropriate that we take time to reflect upon the blessings that God has given us and to offer thanks, praise and worship to our Heavenly Father for His most gracious gifts. Yet there are many that simply don’t see anything to be grateful about.
Unquestionably, the holiday we celebrate today, has undergone some radical alterations since its inception by the Pilgrims more than 300 years ago. What was once a time of celebration and thanksgiving to Almighty God has become a time of watching parades, stuffing our bellies, watching football games and now shopping. We rarely think about our fellow man let alone thank God for His incredible bounty. I have to wonder how God looks at all this.
Ps 95:1-2 says; “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”
Ps 100:4-5 says; “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Phi 4:6 says; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Notice the common thread through these verses of scripture? Thanksgiving! Always approach God with thanksgiving. Thank Him for your blessings, the blessings He has bestowed upon you. Yes, you heard right - He has bestowed upon you!
Now you may be thinking, “Hey! Wait a minute. I earned all those things myself. What does God have to do with anything?”
Let’s take a look at scripture on this point. There are many scriptures about God’s provision and that would probably be several sermons worth of material. So let’s limit our look to these few verses:
Ps 111:4-6 - “He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.”
Acts 14:15-17 - "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."
1 Tim 6:17 - “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.”
Let’s see how other bible versions translate 1 Tim 6:17 :
KJV “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; “
NLT “Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
NASB “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
NKJV “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
There can’t be much doubt that it is God behind your success. It is God that provides you with your talent. It is God that provides you with your education. It is God that provides you with your job. That plasma screen TV, the new car and that turkey sitting on the table? Yep, that’s God blessing you with His abundance.
Often we cover the basics when we thank God. Food, clothing, health, family and a home are high on the list. But the purpose of this sermon is to get you to think more deeply about your blessings. What about the clean water that runs from the tap with the turn of a knob? How about that hot water that runs with the push of a lever? How about sore, aching feet? “Huh?”, you may say, “Why would I thank God for that?” Because it means you can walk!
Thank God for those high gasoline bills because it means you can afford fuel. Thank God for the traffic jam you are sitting in because it means you have transportation. What about that washing machine you have. I think this is one of the most remarkable inventions man has created. Little more than 100 years ago, the method for washing ones dirty clothes was to fill a tub with water that had been heated on the wood stove, put your clothes in the water, add a little lye soap and then plunge them for an hour or so. Can you imagine washing your clothes like that? I doubt there were many people that needed to diet after washing their clothes. Or perhaps you would prefer beating them on rocks at the river like so many people in the world still do. Imagine what a person that is used to washing their clothes this way would think if they saw your washing machine. You put in the dirty clothes, add soap, turn it on and leave. When you come back the clothes are clean! Put them in the dryer, turn it on and leave. Come back and they are dry and ready to be put away! What do you think someone from a third world country would say if they listened to our complaining about how much work it is to do laundry? They would be mystified!
Thank God for the piles of laundry that need ironing? Yes, because it means you have clean clothes to wear! Thank God for those high grocery bills because it. means you have food from almost anyplace in the world on your table. Thank God for those leaves that need raking because it means you have property and you’re out in the sunshine and fresh air. Are your children squabbling in the family room? Thank God because it means they are not out on the street someplace! Is your husband sitting on the couch watching sports? Thank God because it means he is home with you and not out with someone else! Does you wife complain about the housework and cooking? Thank God because it means she is home taking care of her family and not out with someone else!
When we begin to look at our blessings more closely, we begin to see God’s hand in our lives. Do you have a bill for an expensive roof repair? Thank God because it means you have a roof over your head and you could afford to have it repaired. Remember that clean water we spoke of earlier? Think about how many people have a cardboard box to live in with a sewage ditch running outside their front door as their only source of water.
How about that job you don’t like. Thank God because you have a job. Millions of people do not! Pay a lot in taxes? Thank God because it means you have money. Complaining about the government? Thank God He placed you in a country that allows you the freedom to speak your mind!
Thanksgiving is a time of feasting and celebration, no doubt. But it should also be a time of reflection on your life and your place with God. A time to take stock of the blessings that God has so freely given, not because we deserve them but because He loves us so much that He chose to die so that we could live.
So when you are sitting down to that Thanksgiving dinner this year, give pause and think about the blessings you have. List as many as you can. Give a prayer of thanks to the One who is truly responsible for what you have now and enjoy the bounty He has placed on your table. And while you are at it, take an extra moment to give a prayer for those that do not have the blessings that you do, that God will meet their needs and that they will come to know the Lord in a personal and intimate way. A relationship I pray that each and every one of you have with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Father, we are so grateful for all you have given us. We are so undeserving. And yet, even in our sin, you are right there watching over us protecting us and still blessing us. We thank you so much for the people that love us and for the people that we love. We also thank you for the opportunity to help change the lives of others for the better and we pray that we’ll be effective children of God Almighty, blessing others through our words, our deeds and our very thoughts. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen and amen.
May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving this year!
In His name…
© copyright 2005 Church of Hope, Inc.