A Lifestyle of Gratitude - 1&2 Thessalonians

Thankfulness as a way of life

As frequently as Paul talks about thanksgiving, and the well-known verse 1 Thessalonians 5:13, ‘give thanks in all circumstances’, it is clear that thanksgiving is more than words for Paul. It is perhaps a way of life. This verse also strikes me because it is an imperative, there is no option left for us.

Imperative to give thanks

We have no choice in the matter, we must give thanks at all times, in all storms, in all shallow and calm waters. It must be more than a ‘feeling’ of gratitude; it is perhaps action, doing thanks. We usually ‘give’ thanks – so maybe we are already on the right path. It is a giving of ourselves and a recognition that the other has given of themselves. So maybe gratitude is doing and then somewhere along the way maybe the feeling will develop. So, this way of life that Paul models is perhaps more about the action of thanks and then confirming with words to God.

Habits of living thankfully

I wonder what that looks like, acting out gratitude as a lifestyle. We as humans in our imperfection of ‘not giving a child a snake when they ask for bread’ also tend to do decently well in expressing gratitude, I think. It comes to mind that we demonstrate gratitude by doing nice things for the one we wish to thank, or we do things that the other person likes. Could it be that God wants the same as a lifestyle from us? Is it a life that is simply doing nice things, things he likes? Obeying him? Talking (praying to) with him? Rejoicing in him? Trusting him? Praising him?

Surely there are many ways to thank our Lord and King. My church and small group talked about thanks the other week and I was struck by research of how thanksgiving changes our outlook in general. It increases ‘happiness’ by 25% apparently. We can debate what happiness is and how to measure such an increase (?!) but I will leave it that when God says something is important, it is. We don’t need science to confirm it, but there are studies which do.

Thanking Him in the Storms

It is easy to be thankful and express gratitude when things go well. It is easy to live out the Christian life as Paul models, when all is going well. We must stay on guard never to take it for granted, though. Thanking him in the good times will develop the lifestyle that carries us in the shadows. And just how do we do this when we have nothing in our circumstances to give thanks about? When it is hard, the kids need to eat, the car needs fixing and the mortgage is due, but nothing is in the bank account? When we have been left alone, fired from our job, asked to leave our community? When we are taken for granted, forgotten, left out? When we get that call from the doctor, when we lose our loved ones? Gratitude starts with our lifestyle: obeying Him and talking to him about all of it. Trusting that he has already sent the answer, that we are dear sparrows in his hands and he cares for us; accepting his belonging and love - that is giving thanks in all circumstances.

The words will always be there, for we always have Christ to be thankful for, the hope that has given us for His coming good in our lives. Hope in him is what carries us through. Our hope is in his solution, his acceptance. We thank the Lord because he is good, and his love endures forever (I Chronicles 16:34).

I look forward to our preparation for the celebration of Christ’s coming! Starting Monday!