“True Thankfulness”

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we are called to “Count Our Blessings”, and as the hymn tells us, we are not to just enumerate them, but we are to name them. In the good times and in the bad; in the victories and in the losses; in the midst of the good fortune that others have as well as in the meager fortunes that we receive – the hymn tells us that we should constantly be remembering all that the Lord has done for us, and not all that the world has refused to give!!

That is the message that Paul sends to us this evening.

Read Philippians 4:4-7

“Rejoice in the Lord always!” Similar to the advice Paul gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, to always rejoice in the Lord, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks for everything that the Lord brings to our lives! And that, my friends, is the key – it is all about Almighty God, and none of it is about us; it is about the Lord’s extensive blessings, and not what we might hope for in a worldly context.
Paul then offers a series of thoughts that, at first glance, might seem to be disjointed and unconnected. But as we consider these, we need to see them all as means for rejoicing in the Lord, and not as items that lead to a limited earthly joy and happiness.

First, there is “gentleness” – a trait that is rare in society, but is absolutely necessary in Christian community. This isn’t a gift that we use on some occasion when we might be blessed by offering it. It is a gift that we give to every single person, in every single circumstance, under every possible condition. Why? Because Jesus did!

Second, we aren’t to be anxious for anything. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus teaches about worry. He tells us not to worry – not even about the essentials of life, but that we should be focused on the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and when we do, everything else will fall into place.

Third, when we pray, whatever we may be asking for, do it with thanksgiving as if we had already received it (which just may have happened!).

And with our joy and thanksgiving focused on the Lord, we will know that he is near us, that the peace of God, the confidence and trust that we have in him, will fill us, and keep us, and sustain us through all of our lives.

Read Philippians 4:8-9

Paul would have us meditate on these attitudes – not as we experience them in earthly ways, but in Godly ways. There is always the possibility of confusion over these outlooks on life, and some folks would want us to know that none of them even exist – that they are all personal in nature, and that each one is unique for every individual.

As an example - Truth – what is truth? The world would tell us that our own concepts and thoughts are the only “truth” that actually exists! And for the world, that may work, but not in faith. Even Pilate, when Jesus stood before him for judgment, asked the question “What is truth?” And yet, even in his doubt, he was unable to find anything in Christ that was worthy of crucifixion!
Our understanding of what “truth” is, for the most part, falls far short of God’s Truth. Our knowledge is so limited in scope that we are unable to fully comprehend the fullness of Truth.

How about the noble heart? How about what is right and pure? Morality is another one of those earthly versus Godly conflicts. Every ideology has its own concept of right and wrong – that is what makes politics so interesting! The problem is, again, that none of us has even an inkling of what God’s Correctness consists of – or at least we are in the dark without the Bible. And even at that, scholars and theologians can argue a passage of scripture for days, and years (!), without coming to a consensus.

Paul also throws out the ideas of loveliness and admirability. And it still comes back to personal preference.

But if we are looking for the bottom line answer to each of these concepts, God is the only source. Not our thoughts on what the Lord intended, not our interpretations of what the Lord intended, not even our studied and considered understanding of what the Lord intended – it is as simple as living a life that reflects the one that Jesus lived. We will never know joy in living as the world lives! It can only come by living as Christ lives.

We are being told to consider, and ponder, and meditate on what all of this should mean to us as Christians. Can we ever be consistently joy-filled and thankful by living in the ways of earth? No one ever has yet! But can we know the joy of the Lord by living in his way? Only if we are truly dedicated and committed to his way – and his life – and his promise – and his salvation. And when we allow Christ’s life to become our own, it is then that we can experience the nearness of God.

There is no thankfulness without God. Oh, it’s true that we can be humanly satisfied, humanly content, humanly happy, but these things can never last! It is only when we give thanks to God “without ceasing” that we will know his truth, his purity, his loveliness, his contentment, his peace.

Give thanks today, tomorrow, and all the rest of our days, with a grateful heart for all that the Lord has given, and continues to give, to this dark and hurting world.