We are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. We are reminded we should have a thankful attitude. A thankful attitude is certainly not common in our society. Of course, we Believers have more to be thankful for than those who do not know the Love of God. Where would we be without Jesus? How many times have you been touched by Him? How many times have you been guided by Him through difficult circumstances?
What does being thankful do for you? Thankfulness is directly connected to joy, encouragement, peace, etc. Thankfulness is important. You might even say having a thankful heart is the basis of a complete and fulfilled life.
Admittedly, a thankful heart is not easy. I believe having a thankful heart is accomplished not just by thinking better, it also happens when we do better. “Do what better?”, you ask? By making others thankful! Making others thankful sounds like a daunting task indeed! If making yourself thankful is hard, how much more difficult is it to make someone else thankful?
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the financial offering he was bringing to the impoverished Saints in Judea. He was encouraging the Corinthians to get a new perspective, a Kingdom of God perspective.
He writes about giving to others, in 2 Corinthians 9:11, not only will you “be enriched in every way for your generosity”, but it will also, “produce thanksgiving to God.” Imagine that; your giving does things in others that is hard for you to do in yourself, to have a heart of thankfulness! V12 “This ‘ministry of service’ (both words here can be translated ‘ministry’, meaning you are a minister of the Kingdom when you give) is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” V13 “Because of the proof provided by this ministry (of giving) they will glorify God”. V14 They will pray for you … they will have deep affection for you because of the ‘super-abundant’ grace of God in you.” Giving shows the “super-abundant” measure of the grace of God in you! This grace is not exclusively about money, it includes any sacrifice of time, and/or attention, showing that you care!
It is good to have a thankful heart. That takes a lot of mental effort. But being a giver brings out thanksgiving in others.
Thanksgiving is for giving!
Pastor E