What Are You Thankful For

TITLE: WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 4:4-8

(This is not an original message, points gleaned from various ministers over the years)

As many of you know in my haste, I actually scheduled our Church Anniversary/Homecoming a week early. We will spend a day of celebration on next Sunday. It is ordinarily on 4th Sunday of November, and I inadvertently sent the invite to the guest preacher for 3rd Sunday. And that is okay, however; I want to deliver a Pre-Thanksgiving message for us, in particular, for those that will be travelling out of town or feel too busy to attend our Thanksgiving Day Worship here at ‘First Church’ from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. where our own Rev. Mary Finley will bring the message.

I want to lift as a thought this morning - “What Are You Thankful For?” We hear that question a lot this time of year, from Christians and non-Christians alike. It seems that human beings know intuitively, at least to some extent, that the privileges and good things we enjoy in life are, to some measure, given to us and we are to be grateful for what we have.

• Some thank God, or some sort of deity

• Others thank their lucky stars - good fortune - karma - or some nebulous cosmic force at work in the universe

Among all sorts of people, the question is asked - “What Are You Thankful For?” even if it is not entirely clear who it is that is being thanked. No matter; just celebrate the feeling of being thankful. And people generally seem to understand being thankful is good for you. One doesn’t even have to be a Christian to say things like, “count your blessings,” or “look on the bright side” to know that gratitude in general brings some peace and consolation to the mind.

Scientific research proves gratitude is an essential part of our physical and mental health and well-being. Some studies even suggest thankfulness and “counting your blessings” is linked to –

• Better sleep

• Increased desire to exercise

• Fewer physical complaints

• Even the tendency to have healthier heart rhythms

So, the question - “what are you thankful for?” Seems to be therapeutic. And this shouldn’t surprise us, because if the Bible is true, and I believe every word of it, then thankfulness is really the proper posture. We are by our very nature creatures, and we have been given life and all good things by our Creator.

• We were made for Him and His good pleasure

• We were not made for ourselves

• The chief end of man is to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever

Clearly, there is a very real connection between thankfulness and happiness, even if that thankfulness is totally misguided and misdirected by sin. Here, near the end of his letter to the Church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul picks up on that connection. He links our Thanksgiving to God with peace in our mind. Paul was certainly qualified to speak about such things. Not only was he an Apostle writing with apostolic authority and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but he wrote these very words while he was suffering in a Roman prison and facing the possibility of execution.

• He didn’t write these things as one who knew them only in theory, but as one who knew them by experience as well

Paul did not write these words to the church at Philippi as mere good advice. It is important that we do not misunderstand Paul as giving us some platitudes in this text, good advice on how to stay positive and think happy thoughts in life. He was not trying to be like that song by Bobby Mcferrin – you remember it don’t you --

Here's a little song I wrote,

you might want to sing it note for note,

don't worry, be happy

In every life we have some trouble,

when you worry you make it double

don't worry, be happy

If Paul were alive today, he would not be making an appearance on Oprah promoting a book like -- “Transformed By Thankfulness: How I Stayed Positive In Prison” - “LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE NOW.”

• No, he is not giving us platitudes for how to be a better you

• Rather, he is proclaiming promises to those who are in Christ

He addresses this letter to the saints who are in Philippi, and he is saying for all those who are saints, that is, all those who are set apart in Christ, God has promised them if they BRING THEIR REQUESTS TO HIM “WITH THANKSGIVING” He will give them something far greater than a positive attitude; He will provide them with His peace which surpasses all understanding, the peace of Christ. And it will guard their hearts and minds as they travel through this life with its dangers – toils - and snares.