Jump Start # 1481

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

  We are in Thanksgiving week. This is a busy week for many families. For some, there are travel plans. Others will be cooking and cooking and decorating the house. It’s a great time to be with family that we don’t get to spend a lot of time with. Busy schedules and distance often leaves our relationships to phone calls and text messages. Nothing beats seeing one another face to face. Nothing beats the smiles, hugs and laughter of family times.

Immediately following Thanksgiving is the big shopping that is called “Black Friday.” It seems black Friday has already started and it now includes black Thanksgiving. Eat the bird and head to the mall seems to suit some, especially the younger crowd.

This week, we will focus our Jump Starts upon Thankfulness. We hope our thoughts will give you some things to reflect upon and maybe even share with some this holiday season. Our passage today states a simple principle, “in everything give thanks.” Have the spirit of thankfulness. We are told to sing with thankfulness.

There are some basic steps that lead to thankfulness.

First, there is an appreciation for what one has or for what one has received. Most have had that awkward moment when they opened a gift and it was not what they wanted. Worse, they hate the thing given to them and will probably toss it as soon as they can. We come up with the expression, “It’s the thought that counts.” It might be, but we think, “we wish it was the gift that counted.” It’s hard to be thankful when you don’t like what you have. Counting blessings begins with feeling you are blessed. The person who feels cheated in life, doesn’t think he has much to count.

This is where our verse especially takes a unique twist. Paul says “in everything give thanks.” A look at Paul’s life reveals that spirit. When in prison, he was thankful that could glorify the Lord. Paul didn’t view hardships as a sign of God’s displeasure nor frowning upon him.

In everything give thanks. The upside of that expression is easy. The sunshine of life makes it easy to be thankful. Those that have great jobs, loving families, good health, worship with an amazing congregation, the list is long to be thankful for. Life is good, as we say. But others don’t have that. Some are looking for a job. Some have a job, but they don’t like it. The pay is stingy. The conditions are terrible. Some do not have a great relationship with their family. Tension and problems make “home for the holidays” a stressful event to be endured, not one to be longed for. Prodigals in the family. Siblings that haven’t spoken to each other in years. Parents that continue to hand out the guilt. Family times are dysfunctional and problematic. Some do not have the health they once did. On a good day, they don’t feel very well. They hurt. They can’t move very fast. They don’t feel like eating. Some do not worship in healthy congregations. Some churches are falling apart. The leadership is clueless. The preacher hammers and hammers and berates the audience. The church is dying and no one seems to care. For many people, life has many problems. It is here that the “in everything give thanks” becomes a challenge. It’s hard to be thankful when we are in situations that are not good.

In everything…that’s hard. That’s something we don’t give a lot of thought to. The “in everything” can be defined as only the good things, but I doubt the apostle meant that. In everything means in everything.

I know a family who has a loved one that who is very seriously ill in the hospital. He’s in critical care. It’s touch and go for them. I know a friend who just found out that he has cancer. I know several families that will be having their first thanksgiving without a husband or dad present. That will be tough. There will be many tears that day. In everything…

Is the apostle implying that my friend ought to be thankful that he has cancer? That sounds morbid. Should a family be thankful that there is an empty chair at the table this year? That doesn’t sound right. What is meant by “in everything…”?

First, even in the darkest storms there are blessings to be found. When the disciples thought that they were going to die, they found a blessing, a sleeping Jesus was with them. They woke Him up and He calmed the storm. There are blessings even in storms. The storms are not what we are thankful for, but what the storms teach us, where they lead us, how they open our eyes are some things to be thankful for.

Second, for the child of God, there is that grand expectation and hope of Heaven someday. All these problems will end with this life. Failing health, stinky churches, dysfunctional families, terrible jobs, all these problems stay on this side of eternity. Where we are going, the problems won’t come with us. No feeling bad in Heaven. No guilt in Heaven. No stress in Heaven. No matter how dark the night becomes, we know day is soon to follow. In everything be thankful. Be thankful that the Lord knows and cares. Be thankful, that through the Scriptures there is help. Be thankful that Heaven won’t be like here.

Third, thankfulness colors the lens of life for us. Some can smile in the midst of a rainstorm. Some are hopeful and optimistic. Those folks are generally thankful. The thankful person has taken his eyes off of himself and he looks to others. He helps where he can. He sees the great love that others have shared with him. He sees how God has touched his life. The more selfish a person is, the less thankful he is. That person tends to feel cheated and is grumpy and likes to rain on everyone else’s parade. He is miserable and wants to share his misery with you. The thankful person brings sunshine to any room or any day. He’s pleasant, joyful and fun to be around. He sees things that others tend to miss.

In everything be thankful. That’s our thought for today. It’s tough if you are having a rough day. Some will have to work on Thanksgiving. That’s a bummer. Or, “in everything be thankful.”

Look around. Look at people. Look at what you have. Look at how far you’ve come. Look at who loves you. And don’t forget to look up. God is someone to be thankful for. He loves you. He thinks about you. He blesses you. He forgives you. He wants you to spend forever with Him in His house. That’s amazing!

In everything…now that’s something to chew on for a while.

Roger