Thankfulness

Ernst-August Bremicker

The Apostle Paul urges us to be thankful in Colossians 3:15. He writes: ‘and be ye thankful’. Just four words — and yet what deep meaning these words have. Do we not all have every reason to be thankful? God has bestowed us with His whole richness in the Lord Jesus. He has given us much more than we would have ever thought possible. And yet, do we not all need to admit that we are not thankful enough? How often do we complain about this or that and are unthankful! Let us consider what it means to be thankful, and what it means to be unthankful.

Thankful Christians are happy Christians. They live in the deep knowledge that everything they have and are comes from God alone. A thankful Christian takes everything from God’s hand. If we forget to give thanks, we will become hard of heart, resulting in bitterness and unhappiness.

Thankful Christians are praising Christians. They remind themselves daily of the work that their Lord has wrought upon the cross of Calvary. The love of their Saviour is before their eyes and shapes their lives. It is their wish to praise the Lord daily for what He has done for them. This is part of their answer to the love that gave itself unto death. Ungratefulness, however, makes us forget the love of the Lord Jesus and makes us insensitive to His feelings.

Christians who are thankful are content Christians. They know that God will give that which they need. They do not look enviously to the right or left and compare themselves with others and what they have or are. By contrast, an unthankful heart will always long for more and never be content with what God has given in His grace. Envy is one of the ugly characteristics of the flesh, but thankfulness will help us not to blunder into this trap.

Thankful Christians will be a blessing to their fellow brethren, always reminding others of the rich blessing they have in the Lord Jesus and will thus guide them to give thanks themselves. Thankfulness is contagious. An unthankful Christian, however, can become a burden to his or her brethren to the dishonour of the Lord.

Thankful Christians are a living testimony for the Lord. The people they deal with will see that they possesses something they do not. Their unbelieving family members, classmates or colleagues will notice a difference, and possibly start to think about the reason for it. Sadly, unthankful children of God will darken the light of their testimony through their behaviour. Those who are ungrateful will hardly attract others to the Lord.

Thankful believers are persevering believers. Even in days of trial they will not be discouraged. They know that the sun always shines behind the clouds. Of course they feel the trials, but they trust the loving hand of their Father and even in need find reason to give thanks. If we feel that we have nothing to be thankful for, we will be quickly cast down and lose sight of the one who is above all difficulties and problems.

In summary, it is important, and beneficial, to be thankful. The enemy will always try to occupy us with negative things, so that we unlearn how to give thanks. So let us ask God to sustain in us a thankful and therefore happy heart.

Last of all, Paul not only urged others to be thankful: he exemplified it himself. It is well worth exploring his epistles to see for whom and for what he gave thanks to the Lord, and in what circumstances.

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From: Truth and Testimony, 2021