Secret of Thanksgiving

James 1:12-18

 

1. Thanksgiving Day is the source of American blessing, for American ancestors offered thanksgiving to God in the midst of severe difficulties in the New Land. Since God gives every good to humanity, thanksgiving is the natural response of human being. But sinners are used to complaint rather than thank. Modern men have far more goods than any other generation, but they are least grateful. Poor children thank their parents even for a small thing, but rich children are not easily thankful.

2. Why do some thank but others not in the same situation? What is the secret of thanksgiving? We Christians are used to thank God in favorable situations, but the real test comes in difficult and painful situations. Then, how can we thank God regardless of situation? James pointed out that we are deceived when we cannot be joyful and grateful: “Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.”(16) If you are not thankful and joyful, you are under the deception of Satan. What are such deceptions?

3. First, we are deceived that there are some situations in which we cannot thank God. It seems so harsh to demand to be joyful and thankful in the midst of hard suffering and painful tribulation for us weak humans. But Apostle James began his epistle: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”(2) Even in severe poverty and hunger, good children are able to be grateful to their parents. God cares even in times of painful trials. And our heavenly Father wants to use such opportunities for your maturity and sanctification: “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”(3-4) Let us listen to the prayer of George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland:

“My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn! I have thanked Thee a thousand roses, but never once for my thorn… Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.”

If you are so simple to divide situations only good or bad, it is simply because you have no enough wisdom. Then, ask wisdom to God in pure faith, because any doubt or double-mindedness results in disability to get heavenly wisdom that enables to utilize any situation for good outcome (5-8). Such wisdom from God will make able to see true reality through the visible and superficial phenomena of situations. Wealth, health, memory, feeling, position, honor, popularity, reputation and many other things or opposites are passing away and changing constantly. All of those thins are not your reality. They are simply like clothes that you wear on and wear off. Therefore, we Christians need wisdom to see through such phenomenal things. We need to recognize that when we have one thing we miss the other thing and when we miss one thing we have the other thing. So, James asks some strange attitude for us: “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”(9-11) Christians are men of faith, and faith is the ability to see through the material, visible, and phenomenal things and recognize the invisible reality behind them.

4. Second, we are deceived that God is tempting us. It is not true, for “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”(13) God disciplines us for good, not tempting for bad. But Satan is deceiving us to make complaints to God, robbing our thanksgiving. In fact, “each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”(14) Our own evil desires block our joyful attitude of thanksgiving and make us sad and ungrateful. Human desire is God-given good, but when it becomes selfish and uncontrolled it becomes evil. When you have too much desires and expectations to people around you such as your spouse, children, parents, friend, fellow believers or workers, you will be unhappy and ungrateful because they could not satisfy all of your demands. We take so much for granted. You demand too much, while you do not give enough. Unload and free your selfish and evil desires, and then you will be happy and joyful. Problem maker is your selfish desire. God loves you and gives you the best according to His divine wisdom. In fact, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”(17) The word “thank” came from “think” in old English. If you think well, you will thank well. God wishes that you would be developed as a wonderful creature to make the best out of His givens: “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”(18) Whenever you are not grateful, don’t forget that you are now being deceived by Satan! Problem is not in God or other people but your own evil desires. And, if you do not recognize and repent it, your problem would be seriously deepened: “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”(15)

5. God is the best and most lover of us, His beloved children! We need the heavenly wisdom to see His love and grace for our life in every moment and every situation. We need the true insight to see God’s providence even in our difficulties. We need the vision of faith to see the invisible and eternal through the visible and temporal, our soul through our body, and reality through environment. We believe that God always provides the best for us. If we do not understand it, it is because evil spirits blind us by the use of our evil desires.

6. It is wrong not to say thanks when we received something. A small boy said to those who invited him but ate without thanks: “You’re just like my dog! You start right in.” Let us increase our prayer of thanksgiving! Whenever and whatever you have the gift of God like sunrise and sunshine, flowers and trees, your spouse and children, your salvation and cross…, say thanks to God from your heart! It is the fundamental difference between evolutionist and creationist. Thanksgiving should be our life. Then, Satan will no longer easily deceive you. Therefore, let us remember always: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thess 5:16-18) Amen.