Why should Christians be so good at giving thanks?
by Robert krumrey
It’s Thanksgiving week and as per usual we are all thinking more about the necessity of giving thanks. Everyone, Christian or not, seems to think it is a good thing to do. What Pinterest quote board would be complete without some quote about an “attitude of gratitude” or something of the like. It’s intuitive to most of us that it is our duty to give thanks and that it’s somehow good for us.
It is indeed our duty to give thanks and it is good for us but why? As Christians, we know that we give thanks because of grace. Grace is a good thing that we receive from God that we do not deserve. It’s not earned. It’s not purchased. It’s just given. When you are given something that you don’t deserve, especially when it is something that you don’t expect, you can’t help but say “thank you”. I watched this occur last week when we stopped by to welcome one of the new babies that have just been born to one of our MH families. We brought a meal and a little something for the baby, but we also brought some surprises for the older siblings. When one of the older siblings opened her surprise, she automatically burst forth with a big “thank you”! It was such a sweet moment so full of joy for her AND for us. It made me so glad to have been a part of giving her the gift, and as I think about it, I’d love to give her another gift just to share that moment of thanksgiving again.
It caused me to think about my own receiving of God’s gifts of grace and whether or not I burst forth with the same response. If I’m honest, I have to admit that I don’t. I often feel entitled to the gifts I get, and can get grumpy when I don’t see my expectations met. I give thanks out of obedience to a command or out of habit rather than an eruption of unforced gratitude for undeserved grace. As Christians we understand that all of life is grace - both common grace (the everyday graces of everyday life experienced by all humans) AND saving grace (the grace of being saved from sin and its effects experienced by Christians). As we truly reflect on all of this grace in our lives and in the lives of those around us, we can’t help but burst forth with thanksgiving.
The Apostle Paul describes this scenario as it pertained to his relationship with the church at Corinth. As you may know, this church had a boatload of problems. In spite of the many struggles they were having and that Paul was having to address, he writes this to them:
“knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
Paul is practically giddy about the grace that has been given to him and the Corinthians. Jesus has been raised from the dead which means that all who have believed in this good news will be raised as well to dwell with Jesus and his people forever. This grace has been extended to Paul, and then to the Corinthians, and then to many others through their influence. Paul sees this as an infinite and eternal source of thanksgiving. It’s a cycle of grace to thanksgiving, then more grace, then more thanksgiving, then more grace, then . . . well, you get the picture.
As you reflect on the grace you have been given this week, both common and saving, let it elicit a spontaneous burst of thanksgiving. Then get more grace, give more thanks, and then repeat. Keep doing that for literally an eternity. Have a very grace filled Thanksgiving!