INTRODUCTION
“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thess. 5:18
In the opinion of many people, the term ‘God’s will for you’, sounds somehow scary for fear of being asked by God to do the very undesirable. For some others, it is just an existing phrase not to be deeply sought out right down to the letter. But what does the term ‘God’s will for you’ really mean? ‘God’s will for you’ is actually a summary of what and how the Christian walk ought to be. It is the guide and should be the watchword. I should be always thirsting after it, hungry to discover what actually His divine will is for me.
Gods will for His children are innumerable. Some have been discussed in previous editions. This time, we want to see another will of His which says, …in everything give thanks… It is categorically stated …for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GIVE THANKS?
Giving thanks is not merely saying ‘thank you’. Thank you is a word which is used to show that you are grateful to someone for something he or she has done. It is also a polite way of accepting something that is offered to you. Giving thanks encompasses all that ‘thank you’ has to offer, but it is much more than simply saying ‘thanks’. It is a complete attitude of worship and immeasurable adoration ascribed to the One whom you have discovered has neither equal nor rival but is sovereign and deserving no matter your own condition. One may ask ‘…but why give thanks?’ It is a command from God and every command from God to His children is for benefit. “His will for you is good and not evil, to bring you to an expected end.”
WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE GIVING THANKS?
I Thess. 5:18 says, …in everything… What does the bible mean by ‘everything”? Could it be when the going is good and pleasant?
‘In everything’ means in all circumstances. There are various circumstances in life. Sometimes, circumstances prompt us to burst out in praises- loud thanks, quiet or humble thanks. Persistent thanks, thanks out of gratitude and appreciation. Thanks from a full and bubbling heart or from a heart of inexpressible joy. These situations are expected, correct and legitimate. However, at other times, our conditions prompt us into negative moods, sadness, un-forgiveness or anger. How could such uncomely situations yield thanksgiving from any one?
There could be situations as bad as the loss of loved ones, suddenly dashed high expectations, disappointments, and failure in examinations, embarrassments, shame, and loss of treasured items, poverty or lack and grievous mistakes. To the eyes of mere man, these heartbreaking situations do not call for giving thanks but endless mourning, dejection, hurtful sorrows and such like. But in God’s sight, the expectation from the hurting is contrary. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD”. God expects strength in times of adversity… Any heart that can give God thanks in such adverse situations, spells strength in Christ, faith, surrenderedness and trust in God.
WHEN SHOULD THANKS BE GIVEN?
“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Eph. 5: 20. ‘Always’ means all the time, persistently, continuously, momentarily, each time, at all occasions, consistently, without fail, regularly, unfailingly and habitually. Thanks should be given ceaselessly, Rev.4:8, 9. ‘…and they do not rest day or night”. This implies that ‘thankfulness’ should be like our every breath. Without breathing, we all cease to live. In the same way let us consider giving thanks as something no human should exist without. Give thanks first thing every morning, throughout the busy day, break time, leisure and meal times. Give thanks to God at bedtime and trust to thank Him through your sleep up till the dawning of a new day, rising up once more with more refreshing thoughts of thanks and gratitude. Giving thanks should grow to become our life habit until it is registered in our subconscious.
HOW SHOULD THANKS BE GIVEN?
A. ‘’…to God”-Thanks should be given …to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5: 20. –To God, not to man. Do you realize that all you are and have are allowed by God, the Almighty Creator? However, you have never witnessed Him physically handing you anything. God uses people on earth to meet our several needs. This has been the trend ever since you were born. We must be grateful to and for anyone who has ever had anything to do with our raising and upbringing. Saying ‘thank you’, appreciating others for their kindness is a virtue that must be cultivated. But you must never forget that God’s divine hand holds and supports your supporters. This is why all Thanks indeed goes to the Triune God.
B. ‘…in Christ Jesus’: Giving thanks should be done in Christ. …As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col.2: 6, 7
Doing God’s will can only be done by someone who is ‘in Christ Jesus’. Giving thanks to God is fully accepted by heaven when you do so as His child. Anyone who is not ‘in Christ’ and does His will does so by God’s compulsion and to meet God’s own divine purpose. Pharaoh was forced to do the will of God. God used him to show His power to His children and to the world at large. Such will never reap the divine benefits of doing God’s will. We should equally give thanks for those who seem to have treated us badly. Without their input, you may not have learnt some dear lessons of life.
C. With a Clean Heart: The Psalmist proclaims, I will wash my hands in innocence… that Imay proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving… Psalm 26:7
Thanks should be given with a clean heart in purity of mind. Thanks can be done using musical instruments, (2 Chr. 25:3). Praise must be done during a prayer for anxiety or worry, Phil. 4:6. It should be taken as a duty and therefore a requirement for heaven’s gate, (2Chr 31:2, Psalm 95:2, Rev.4:9). Thanksgiving is a heavenly pattern and should be emulated on earth, (Rev. 4:8-10). Different postures of prostration will often and voluntarily manifest in you as a child of God who is caught up in the presence of God in the process of giving Him thanks. You could progress from standing and sitting to kneeling down and lying down in reverence to Him. In times of devotion, the degree of your love for Him, adoration and honour usually would dictate your posture while bowing your heart to Him in deep worship and thanksgiving.
HINDRANCES TO GIVING THANKS
Giving of thanks can be hindered by a heart of unbelief and continual doubting. Discontentment which leads to grumbling and complaining will never allow thanksgiving. Laziness, lack of diligence, slothfulness can attract unwarranted situations like exam failure, poverty and undue suffering. These could lead a child of God to curse and relegate blames to any and everyone except himself instead of being thankful. This could also lead to sin which can degenerate to the inability to forgive yourself for the wrong paths you have trodden on life’s journey. The kind of friends you keep could discourage thanks to God. If you are fond of listening to negative remarks about people, agreeing with dampening news, believing the worst about yourself because certain friends tend to give you such impressions, then you are quite far from ‘giving thanks to God’. Such an environment is not at all conducive for giving thanks.
We must not allow these. Instead develop a ‘never give up’ slogan and decide to run your race to a good finish despite the odds. Do not fail to seek advice where necessary because many have trod the same paths as you and have experienced like situations too but prevailed and succeeded with the help of God.
BENEFITS OF GIVING THANKS
1. Continual awareness of the Lord’s closeness and sensitive to His comforting presence
2. Motivates us to look for His purposes in our circumstances – (Rom. 8:28,29)
3. Helps bring our will in subjection to God – (Luk.22:42)
4. Pride, feelings of adequacy and independence evaporate as we rememberour continual dependence on Him
5. It is an essential ingredient of Joy
6. Strengthens our witness to unbelievers and encourages other Christians greatly
7. Focuses our attention on Him and not on our circumstances
8. Gives us an eternal perspective – (2 Cor. 4: 16,18)
9. Energizes us in weariness (Is.40:29-31)
10. Transforms anxiety into peace – (Phil. 4:6-7)
Other benefits include giving thanks which keeps us healthy in many ways, improves our self- esteem and sleep quality, helps cope with negative situations, you have deeper friends and healthier relationships, you could even get promotions from men because of your desirable attitude. Giving thanks makes you feel stronger and increases productivity. In this way you reach your goals faster and you become more likeable. Negative emotions are reduced such as envy, hatred and anger. Instead you’re up with positive emotions such as love and empathy.
Our spirit of thanksgiving to God can be improved right away! Embark on this knowing that God is here to help you through.
CONCLUSION
Giving thanks is more than an expression of gratitude- merely saying ‘thank you’. It is a mindset, a mentality. It is when you are keenly aware that you depend upon God. It is a lifestyle that actually sacrifices and succumbs to the reality of grace.
Giving thanks implies making an assessment of your life and considering what you have, not what you do not have. Remember to include heaven! It implies acknowledging where they all came from … “every good and perfect gift comes from above”. Giving thanks implies appreciating that you really can never repay no matter how hard you try to. Psalm 100 says it all: Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name…
It is a life that pleases God that thanks God.