In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1Thes. 5:18)
Nothing is quite so fitting to a Christian as a mantle of thanksgiving. Indeed, one of the things that clearly separates the world from the Christian is the ability to give thanks. Unregenerate men are unwilling and unable to acknowledge God and give Him thanks (Romans 1:21). For a Christian to be unthankful is a wrong condition.
Our text says “in everything” (Greek: en pante) which means in everything that enters your life experience. This is a clear indication that God is actively in control of all the things that we experience in life. Since they come from Him, we are required (this is a command) to give Him thanks or risk implying that we are kinder and wiser than He.. Thanksgiving is the proper response to the contemplation of His goodness.
When our boys were young, we tried to create thankful hearts within them. With the command “Say thanks!” , we were able to demand submission (or stimulate rebellion). But it was, by itself, totally unable to create a thankful heart.
We found that the best way to generate a heart of thankfulness was to involve them in profitable work . The kind of work where they could see the results and participate in the reward. If they rejected that process, we took away fundamental privileges (meals, clothing, freedom).
God works the same way. He involves himself in our work. Our tendency is to survey the results of the works of our hands and celebrate what we have accomplished. In truth, God is the provider of every good thing. In time, God may judge our thanklessness by taking away the privileges of life. Life can be hard while He waits for us to turn and give him thanks.
The second part of the text declares that giving thanks is God’s will for those who belong to Jesus Christ. We study the scripture to see how we should act. There are just a few passages that declare openly that God wants us to do something. This is one of those passages.
My 90-year old mother came to me the other day with a Bible question (Praise the Lord!). I asked her if she would do the will of God for her if she knew it. Or, would she go her own way and risk offending and answering to Jesus Christ. Thankfully, she responded that she would be sure to do it.
Consider the ten lepers of Luke 17. Ten were healed. Only one returned to give thanks. Jesus saw his heart and gave him salvation in the bargain. “It’s so hard to find someone more thankful than a brand new Christian” MacArthur.
How about you?
Are you going through life complaining because of the things that happen to you?
Are you anxious about your circumstances?
Or, in humility have you counted yourself a servant of the Most High God and daily declared your thanksgiving for his goodness to you?
Stop now and thank him for your ability to read this document. Practice thanking Him with each step you take today.
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