The Purpose of Thanksgiving

When we think of Thanksgiving we automatically think of a national holiday in November. Immediate and extended families get together for a meal and to catch up in all the events of the past year. Many times, parts of the family haven’t been together since the last holiday season, so they talk and laugh, reminisce and reconnect. This is pretty much the routine of all of America and these things are very good. This year, I am going to my parent’s house and have not been there since last Thanksgiving. I will get to see my immediate family having only been with them once or twice through the past twelve months. I’m already looking forward to our normal Thanksgiving routine. That, of course, includes a lot of food, a lot of talking and visiting probably along with some time outdoors shooting my dad’s guns and maybe even a trip to do some local shopping. Does that sound like your Thanksgiving?

If my description above were the only purpose of Thanksgiving that would be great; but it’s not. Of course, I’m not just talking about the holiday. There are some things which set my thanksgiving apart from much of the American holiday. Or maybe I should say it this way; there should be something different about my thanksgiving than the way Americans who do not have a relationship with Christ give thanks. So, what’s the difference? When my family and I come together at mom and dad’s house and gather around a greatly prepared meal to give thanks, what should be different about our thanksgiving?

The apostle Paul talks about thanksgiving in a very different way than many of us think of it today. Of course, he didn’t have a national holiday, but he was definitely thankful. In 2 Corinthians, as well as many other places in his writings, he describes thanksgiving in a way that is more than just being thankful for prosperity.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul speaks of Thanksgiving; both its cause and effect. “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15, NKJV) The “all things” of which Paul is speaking are found in the verses preceding verse 15. In the ministry, Paul did not have it easy. His thankfulness to God was based on something much deeper than possessions and prosperity. It was based on the fact that Christ had been revealed to us and through belief we now have something extraordinary; the Holy Spirit residing in us. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7, NKJV) Paul actually demonstrates a thanksgiving, and a purpose of thanksgiving, which comes through hardship.

So, when we give thanks it can be more than just about health and wealth; not that we shouldn’t be thankful for those things. The primary reason, in Paul’s mind, to be thankful, however, is that we’ve experienced the grace of God. That, according to Paul, should cause our thankfulness (thanksgiving) to increase more and more and that increase of thanksgiving will glorify God. Our thanksgiving is not about our increase of worldly things, but, that the Spirit’s activity in our lives, through the grace of God, causes us to be renewed inwardly, daily. Paul states it this way: “Therefore we do not lose heart.[because of our physical situation] Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NKJV)

If the cause of our thanksgiving to God is the fact that we’ve experienced His grace through Jesus the affect of our thanksgiving, then, is that others can too. As a matter of fact, that is the reason for any increase that God has given us. Later in 2 Corinthians Paul explains this. “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10–11, NKJV)[Emphasis mine]

What should the major difference be between my Thanksgiving and someone’s who does not walk with Jesus? It’s that my thanksgiving is triggered, not by prosperity, but by grace. Whether or not I’ve experience an increase in my bank account or my possessions I am eternally thankful. I am thankful because the Holy Spirit is at work in me and regardless of my outward condition I am being renewed day by day by God who loves me. In the end, when I’m thankful in this way, God can use my thankfulness to spread His grace to others who will have an opportunity to be thankful this year in a way they’ve never known. If you don’t know the grace of God, begin a relationship with Him through Jesus and experience a Thanksgiving like you never knew was possible!

I am Thankful; God be glorified!

**Above picture from http://www.powerpointsermons.com/