(via WWE)
But are we really thankful? The test is our text this morning—1 Thessalonians 5.18. Listen to these words: in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Now let’s go over that list of our usual sources for thanksgiving in life in America this month. Most of us are thankful for the good things (as we measure them)—but what if things are “not so good” according to our way of looking at life? Take, for instance:
• A safe and comfortable home—what if we had to live in the bad part of town, in an apartment or house that was dirty, unsafe, and cold? Would you still be thankful? That is where most Christians in the world today do live!
• A secure and providing job—what if you were unemployed, underemployed, or disabled and never able to work again? Would you still be thankful? That is where many Christians in the world are today! Remember 2/3rds of the world lives on less than a dollar per day.
• An insured savings account and an assured retirement plan—what if you were penniless, uninsured, and with no social, financial, or medical safety net? Would we still be thankful? That is where most Christians in the world are today!
• A healthy, strong, and mobile body—what if you were weak, sick, infirm, and without a prognosis of return to full health? Would we still be thankful? That is where many Christians in the world are today!
• An active and full life—what if you were far from leisure and recreation, distant to action and excitement, shut-in, immobile, without a car, a family, a circle of close friends, and money to get any of the above? Would we still be thankful? That is where a lot of Christians in the world are today!
• A wonderful family and friends—what if you were the only believer in your family, or even in your city somewhere in the Middle East? Would we still be thankful? That is where a lot of Christians in the world are today!
So are we really thankful? Or are we only thankful for what we consider to be the good times? The way to measure genuine gratitude is to see if this verse fits us. “In everything” do we give thanks?
Paul was one of the most thankful men in the 1st Century. Yet that was in spite of his circumstances. Paul did not have a safe and comfortable home—unless you count the local jail as safe, though uncomfortable. He did not have a secure and providing job—he depended upon God’s people’s gifts for much of his ministry life.
He did not have an insured savings account and an assured retirement plan—unless you count treasures laid up in Heaven, and Christ’s promise to never leave or forsake. He did not have a healthy, strong, and mobile body—unless you count the one he was getting when he finally got home to Glory and saw Jesus face to face. He did not have an active and full life—unless you count ministry as active and struggles as full.
But he was thankful in everything. Remember Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 4.7-18
(WWJ-71; 041125AM)
Join the LAND OF THE BOOK channel to access weekly video releases over the next year totaling 50+ EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS featuring weekly in-depth Bible Study lessons with John & Bonnie. Clips are taken at just one of the places where we are taking our virtual journey through all the Lands of the Bible & Great Museums of the Bible on the Paul’s Life & Letters Course. Plus all the assigned HOLY LAND, Paul’s Life & Letters Course STUDY RESOURCES, and John’s two most loved books–David’s Spiritual Secret & Living Hope for the End of Days at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVK6dN-9kLDnQhYBFuES09A/join
Follow Discover the Book Ministries to stay up to date:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverthebook/
DTBM Academy Courses:
https://dtbma.com/Default.aspx
Purchase John’s Books, Mp3 & DVD resources:
E-Books: https://tinyurl.com/y3wbhlxy
Here are links to our Amazon Pages–
https://www.amazon.com/shop/dtbm
Donate to the ministry: https://dtbm.org/donations/partnership/
For more of Dr. John Barnett’s Bible teaching messages, go to: https://dtbm.org/
https://youtu.be/AlAK6Vmfih8