In Everything Give Thanks
INTRO. The 102 Pilgrims were crammed into the Mayflower’s hold (which was about the size of a volleyball court). Compound the misery of such cramped quarters by a lack of light and fresh air (all the hatches were battened down because of foul weather). Add a diet of dried pork, dried peas and dried fish, and the stench of an ever-fouler bilge and multiply that times 66 days at sea.
Before they ever left Holland, William Bradford and his wife, Dorothy had a 3 year old son, but because they felt the voyage would be too dangerous, they left him with relatives. They were ready to give their lives for freedom, even if it meant leaving their young son. What a sacrifice!
They endured without complaining. What a great price they paid! Yet they paid it cheerfully! When they arrived at Cape Cod, the summer was over and there were no friends to welcome them, no inns to refresh them and winter was approaching. Men like William Brewster, Pastor John Robinson, William Bradford and Miles Standish experienced that horrible winter.
When the worst of the winter was finally over, they had lost 47 people. 13 out of 18 wives had died. Only 3 families remained unbroken. Of all the first-comers, the children fared the best: of 7 daughters none died; of 13 sons only 3 died.
Why did they make this fateful trip? Primarily, so that they could have the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience and the Word.
In May 1621, the weather began to warm up and the community of settlers had their first wedding. Edward Winslow had lost his wife and Susanna White her husband. They both felt that God did not intend for them to continue alone, so Gov. Bradford married them and the whole settlement enjoyed the wedding feast.
That summer they continued work on the new buildings—homes for the settlers. And with the help of the Indian, Squanto, they began to trade with the tribes of the region. The Pilgrims were overcome with gratitude—not only to Squanto and the Indians who had been so friendly, but to God who had seen them through that first winter.
Gov. Bradford declared a date of public thanksgiving to be held in October. Massasoit was invited, but he brought 90 Indians with him. The Pilgrims feared they wouldn’t have enough to feed the whole crowd. And they worried about cutting into their winter food supply. But they had learned to trust God and, as it turned out, the Indians brought five deer and twelve turkeys.
The Indians taught the Pilgrim women to make hoecakes and a pudding made of cornmeal and maple syrup—they also had a delicacy = popcorn. The Pilgrims provided vegetables from their gardens and with the Indians’ dried fruits; they made blueberry, apple and cherry pies.
Contests between the men = races, shooting guns, bows, wrestling. There were even military drills by Captain Standish. Things went so well that Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. Surely one moment stood out in the Pilgrim’s memory, William Brewster’s prayer. They had so much for which to thank God. He had sustained them!
I believe that the keys to happiness, contentment, peace, joy and all of the Christian life is wrapped up in this verse, “In everything give thanks.” It is easy for us to be thankful for such things as health, strength, food, shelter, clothing, love, friends, family, etc. But notice that the scripture says, “IN EVERYTHING give thanks.”
I believe there’s a difference in “giving thanks” and “being thankful.” Being thankful means that you recognize the benefit that you have received or experienced. Giving thanks means that you thank God for your condition, your circumstances, etc. even in those things where you don’t see the benefit.
In everything GIVE THANKS even though you may not understand the reason for it; or God’s purpose behind it.
1. The Things That Benefit Us
Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits….The God of our salvation!
This should be obvious to all of us, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who are Christian, who are embarrassed to thank the Lord for food at mealtime. Do we ever thank the Lord for His great gift of salvation? Do we thank Him for His amazing grace? Do we thank the Lord for His comfort during trials, His strength for the journey, His hope we have in the future?
A. Your Country
We live in a great country. America is a great nation. Yes, we have some tremendous problems, but would you want to live in Afghanistan or Ethiopia right now? With all of our problems, people are still clamoring to get here! Hey, folks aren’t dying to get to Mexico or Canada, but they are dying to get here!
B. Your Companion
Your husband or wife. God has bless me so much with Patsy. You all don’t know the hours that she puts in every week with the music and the children’s ministry and trying to keep me out of trouble. Have you thanked God for your spouse lately? Thank God for them; even if they’re not perfect because you’re not perfect either.
C. Your Children
The Bible says that children “are an heritage of the Lord.” Let’s not take our children for granted. They grow up WAY too fast! Take time to love them, play with them, teach them and correct them for the glory of God.
D. Your Cottage
Most of us have a nice place to live. We’re not living on the street or under a bridge. There are many people in the world who do live in squalor.
E. Your Company
What I mean by that is our jobs! It’s good to be able to work and provide for your family. Have you thanked God for your employer lately? Have you thanked your employer for your job?
F. Your Community
We live in a wonderful place! God has blessed us in allowing us to live here. Hey, after listening to the weather report last week aren’t you glad you don’t live in Buffalo, NY…6 feet of snow!! And what about your friends the Lord has given you.
G. Your Church
You have a church family that cares about you. I know we’re just a relatively new church and don’t have everything that the mega churches have. But you need to remember that there are people here that love you and pray for you.
ILLUST. Well, I’m just going to stay at home and watch Dr. David Jeremiah or Dr. Charles Stanley…I can get fed through their ministries. Yes, I suppose you can, but when you go to the hospital or when tragedy strikes, you be sure and call one of them in the middle of the night and see if one of them will come to visit you. Hey, it’s important to be involved in a local church!
2. The Things That Bug Us
Let’s face it! There are things in life that we could really just do without, right? Who needs allergies, athlete’s foot or Alzheimer’s? Who needs bursitis, backache or bossy neighbors? Who wouldn’t be able to do without colds, crabgrass, cancer or Congress?
A. People – personality traits, bad habits, poor hygiene, etc?
B. Places – there are some things about that desert that are not the best. It gets hot! Noisy neighbors, etc.
C. Personal – defects, weaknesses, illnesses we can’t get rid of, etc.
3. The Things That Buffett Us
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Not just the good things…ALL things. If we choose to run away from the things that buffet us, we only force God to choose new problems to try to conform in us the “mind of Christ.” Therefore, if some things seem irresolvable, we can be sure that God has allowed it to continue for a reason.
2 Cor. 12:7 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
When we respond to situations as God would have us respond, He is then free to remove those difficulties from our lives.
Prov. 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
4. The Things That Bereave Us
Even in the death of a loved one or a friend, we must learn to give thanks to the Lord. That does not mean we won’t miss them, be sad that they’re gone, etc. We can thank God for the time we had with them.
5. The Things That Burden Us
When I think of things that burden us, there are many things that come to mind: problems in our families, on the job, financial setbacks, etc. However, I want to focus on physical illness for a moment.
There are 3 Kinds of Sickness:
Sickness unto death
Ps. 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Sickness unto chastisement
1 Cor. 11:28-32 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Sickness to show the glory of God.
2 Cor. 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
6. The Things That Bless Us
There are many things that are a blessing to us: the sun, the moon, the stars, rain, fire, light, the flowers, the trees, the mountains. The face of a child, the laughter of my family, the kisses of my spouse, the warmth of her embrace, the hugs and kisses from my grandkids, etc. So many blessings even in such small things!
However, in Gen. 12:1 God promised that through Abraham all nations of the earth would be blessed:
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
He was speaking of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah, the Deliverer, would come through the lineage of Abraham and because of that all the earth would be blessed.
