Growing up, you often heard the phrase, “There are starving children in Africa!” thrown around from time to time. This especially happened when an individual complained or refused to eat a family member's prized lima bean recipe. Although the intent behind the quote is an attempt to create a healthier perspective, in my experience, it was about as heartfelt as the average person's answer, “Good!” when you ask them how they are doing.
Now, I am raising children of my own, and I am seeking to train their hearts to be grateful for all the things God has given them in this life. Yet, it often seems their father (that’s me) needs just as much coaching and shepherding as they are…if not more. How can I train my children’s hearts if I have not trained my own?
What does it mean to be thankful? During the Thanksgiving season, you will hear many different definitions fly around. The Bible is filled to the brim with commands, examples, and illustrations of thankfulness. It is overflowing with gratitude to the one who wrote it. No matter the circumstance or situation, the expectation of God’s people is that they would have a heart of gratitude. Paul even refers to it as a way of life to the Thessalonians:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks in all circumstances. What a profound and weighty command. No matter the highs and lows of life, no matter what is going well or is not, no matter if I have good health or am falling apart at the seams, I am to give my Great God thanks. How? How can we do that amid overwhelming pain, seemingly unjust suffering, and an unending battle with sin inside and outside of us?
First, we must be content. Let us continue to sit at the feet of Paul and learn from this old sage.
11 For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Philippians 4:11b-12
Have you read the book of Acts or 2 Corinthians? This man, of all men, had every right to grumble, complain, and lose heart. However, unlike my average week, Paul says, in the face of the most intense suffering, “I have learned to be content.” Wow! Contentment is a settled peace with one’s situation and lot in life due to the foundational truth that there is a good God in heaven who is in control. While comparison is the thief of joy, it is also the author of greed.
We live in a world that constantly seeks to discontent us. That is literally the main premise of sales. You did not want to buy insert product today, but the salesperson’s job is to make you realize your “need” for their product. The scary thing is this “salesperson” often looks less like someone knocking on your door and more like a post on your social media, a video representing an easier or better life. The world has only gotten better at tempting you and me to be discontent with the hand God has dealt us.
If you do not learn how to be content, you will never be satisfied in this life.
Contentment is only half of the puzzle. God’s goodness is the other half. Listen to the psalmist as they proclaim thankfulness to the God who is.
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:1-5
This is the Psalm I will take my family to on Thanksgiving Day, and I love it! Look at all of the exhortations: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness, come into His presence with singing, know that He is God, enter His gates with thanksgiving, enter His courts with praise, give thanks to Him, bless His name…Talk about a mouthful for such a short Psalm!
The greatest thing to highlight is the disposition this shows we should have and the underlying reason why. Our heart's attitude toward God is to be ecstatically thankful and full of praise, overflowing in singing to our Great God. How do we do this? What empowers our children, spouses, and even ourselves to become these people?
First, we must know God. The more we know God, the more this heart posture becomes natural. Second, we must remind ourselves and our families of who God is! He is God! He made us. We are His sheep. Why is all of that really, really good news? Because the Lord is good! His loyal love for His people never ends. He will always be faithful to His people and His promises because He cannot deny Himself! What a gracious and wonderful security that is!
This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take your family to Psalm 100 and train your hearts to a posture of gratitude and praise. I am excited to hear how it goes!
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
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