Thessalonian Thankfulness

Thessalonian Thankfulness

A Christian writer named Robert Roberts wrote, “There’s a uniquely Christian frame work for gratitude.” Isn’t that true? By the way, how grateful would you be growing up if your name was Robert Roberts? In the Spirit of Johnny Cash perhaps his parents wanted to make him tough like a boy named “Sue.” If you get nothing else from this article, Lord willing, you’re more grateful for the way your parents named you!!

But Roberts is right. “There is a uniquely Christian framework for gratitude.” Christians say “Thank you,” to God knowing if we lost everything in this life but still had Christ as our Savior we are opulent paupers. Think of how uber wealthy in spiritual treasure we’d still be. Grace, sin atoned for, shalom, a heavenly home, purpose, and all the promises of God “YES” in Jesus. Paul put it like this, “… sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Thank you heavenly Father for heaven’s greatest jewel Jesus as our Redeemer.

Thessalonian thankfulness believes Jesus is the pearl of great price.  

But, you see, this is part of the uniquely Christian framework we give thanks from. Let’s call it, for lack of creativity, “Thessalonian Thankfulness.” Thessalonian thankfulness realizes first of all that if I have nothing in this life but Jesus then I have everything. Adversely, if I have everything I want in this life and no Jesus, I really have bupkus. “Take the world,” Crosby taught us to sing, “but give me Jesus!”  

We might call this uniquely Christian perspective Thessalonian thankfulness because Paul taught the Thessalonican Christians to be thankful from this “come what may with Christ as my treasure perspective” and they believed it. Listen to how Paul bragged about what God had done in the Thessalonians’ hearts in his second letter to them: “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 - Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring” (2 Thessalonians 1:3, 4). Clearly in the worst of trials these young Christians, by faith, loved their Jesus more than the comforts of this world. So Thessalonian thankfulness involves believing in Jesus as the greatest treasure of all.

Thessalonian thankfulness thanks in all things with a future focus.  

In his old age, President James Madison suffered from many ailments and took a variety of medicines. It is said that a longtime friend from a nearby county sent him a box of vegetable pills, one of his own home remedies, asking to be informed if they brought relief. In time this friend received one of those gracious and carefully worded letters for which Madison was noted. It went something like this: “My dear friend, I thank you very much for the box of pills. I have taken them all; and while I cannot say I am better since taking them, it is quite possible that I might have been worse if I had not taken them.” 

Paul actually wrote this to the Christians in Thessalonica. They are words written for us as well: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”                                     (1 Thessalonians 5:18). President James Madison offered a mere pleasantry to a man who probably did nothing to help him in all his suffering. But this is not what God was asking of the Thessalonians or us as Christians. Give thanks simply means give thanks - even when distressed and suffering. No platitudes or pleasantries but rather a sincere “thank you” to God in, yes, everything is to be offered.  So how do we as Christians honestly do this?

One Scriptural answer is to focus on future joy. Jesus modeled this best while he was at his worst. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  This is the Jesus way to give thanks in all circumstances. In all the ignominy of the cross, all the shame and suffering of our sin Jesus found future joy. The genuine joy Jesus had in his heart was there as he focused on the salvation that would be ours and the greater glory that awaited him in heaven. 

If the future joy Jesus promises is real and you believe him, there is no circumstance that can steal your thanksgiving. Focus on it. Thessalonian thankfulness will be yours as you fix your eyes on the future prize. It is little wonder that after commanding the Thessalonians to be thankful to God no matter what a few verses later Paul offers them these future blessings: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 - The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24).

A final challenge for Thessalonian thankfulness.

Try this experiment for more frequent Thessalonian thankfulness. Writer your own benediction for one week with the above two perspectives. Put it on a post it notice and proclaim it each day all week. In good times in bad times, put your benediction to the LORD. Use the phrase the Hebrews loved: “Blessed are you, O LORD…” Then finish it with either future focused gratitude in Christ or a recognition that he is your greatest treasure no matter what. I leave you with this sample and challenge you to do the same for greater gratitude.

SAMPLE: Pastor Tim wakes up rushed and grumpy. (Two kinds of people in the world. People who love to wake up in the morning, and people who hate people who love to wake up in the morning.) So for Thessalonian thankfulness he says out loud slowly: “Blessed are you, O LORD because Jesus will see my faithfulness today in light of his faithfulness and what I don’t get done I can leave in his capable hands as the one who loves me most.” “And blessed are you, O LORD because one day soon there will be nothing more to grump about only and ever all that makes us glad.” Now, might that not increase my gratitude quotient for the rest of the day? Give it your own try and see. And have a happy Thessalonian thankful Thanksgiving.