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Giving Thanks Is Not Commanded but Imperative

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Giving Thanks Is Not Commanded but Imperative

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Giving Thanks Is Not Commanded but Imperative

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Nowhere in the Bible will we find God, Himself, commanding we give Him thanks, but we learn nonetheless the imperative value of thanksgiving from the faithfully obedient.

Sermon Notes

People can take two different approaches to God for having a relationship. One might say there are many more than two, but I am referencing only those who acknowledge that God sets the standard for what is godly living. One approach is to try and gain God’s favor through obedience. On the other hand, one can choose to obey having received the grace of God’s favor. The former seeks to be approved while the latter, being approved, seeks to be godly.

So, in our various struggles in life, trying to determine what God expects of us, we can stumble if we obey to gain God’s favor.The victory in these struggles is to remember that God loved us first, before we loved Him, which then leads us to obey because we love God back, knowing God already loves us.

Abraham is a fine example of one who trusted God from the very beginning, even trusting to the point of being willing to sacrifice his own son according to the Lord’s command. He did all things trusting promises God had already given him,and we can see God’s response after stopping Abraham from actually making the sacrifice.

Gen 22:15  Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
Gen 22:16  and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—
Gen 22:17  blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
Gen 22:18  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

A quality is found in those who obey God in faith, and that quality is thankfulness. In the case of Abraham, we don’t have a direct statement about thanksgiving, but we do have a witness from Paul that shows how Abraham’s life glorified God.

Rom 4:20  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
Rom 4:21  and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Rom 4:22  And therefore "IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

And we will look a little later into how glorifying God is closely associated with thankfulness.

A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Jackson reminded us of the importance of thanks, including just how many things for which we can be thankful, like even a quick conversation with a friend. His point was clear, that we have much for which to give thanks, and he provided examples for us to reflect upon.

In his closing remarks, he said, “As we go through our daily lives these next few weeks, months, years, whatever, let’s think about the things large and small we should be thankful for.”

Have you ever said to yourself, “I need to be more thankful,” or, “I know I should be more thankful, but...?” We’ve all done it, but what is it we are actually expressing when we do that?Are we saying we are unthankful? Maybe, without realizing it, we are actually expressing something else we lack.

Maybe it would be better if we confessed, “I need to trust God more,” or “I know I should be obeying God, but...”

Here we are a couple of weeks later having had some opportunity to reflect on thankfulness, so I’d like to include an additional perspective on thankfulness in hopes more light can be shed on its value. You see, the curious thing about thanks in relation to God is that GOD NEVER ACTUALLY COMMANDS US TO BE THANKFUL, though He does require us to believe and obey. Why would that be?
Today, we will discuss thankfulness as a good indicator of the quality of our relationship with God. To do that we will first find how God does NOT actually command it. We will then see how, although not commanded, if thanks is given, it must be given by God’s standard. Then, finally, we will see how, though God cannot demand our thanksgiving, thanksgiving is an absolutely essential activity that reveals our trust and obedience toward God.

First, God never anywhere in the Bible demands or commands we give Him thanks. As a quick, but clear reference, let us go to Leviticus...

Lev 22:29  And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.

God commanded Israel to obey His laws. He prescribed specific ceremonies, times, seasons, and procedures for ritual law used to pay Him honor and acknowledge His providence or to be forgiven of sin. For instance, if and when a person committed sin, there was a prescribed procedure for animal sacrifice that must be fulfilled. Holy Days had prescribed procedures for honoring God with more sacrifices. But, the sacrifice of thanksgiving had no prescribed time or season. (further explanation?)

What it did share with other sacrifices was prescribed procedure. You did not ever have to give a thanksgiving sacrifice, but, if you did, you must do it a certain way.

We can see this by reading earlier in Leviticus...

Lev 7:11  'This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the LORD:
Lev 7:12  If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil.
Lev 7:13  Besides the cakes, as his offering he shall offer leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering.
Lev 7:14  And from it he shall offer one cake from each offering as a heave offering to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering.
Lev 7:15  'The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning.

God cannot require us to be thankful any more than He can require us to believe Him or accept Jesus as our Lamb, but what God can and must do is define for us what is acceptable to Him. How we give thanks matters.

Part of the reason I introduced this message with two types of people regarding obedience, separating out those who obey because they have faith in God from those who obey to gain or retain God’s favor is that the former obey with thanksgiving while the latter obey under duress. The latter is in less of a position to give God free will thanksgiving because their position is still that they have to achieve God’s favor, and endeavoring to gain that favor, they will be more inclined to attempt to fulfill the expectation of thanksgiving without the foundation of free will. They are unable to see God’s way in terms of the blessings it provides, but only as a procedure for getting His attention or favor.

So, one, we are learning today that God has no command for thanksgiving in the Bible, but, two, we also know He requires that thanksgiving, WHEN GIVEN, be given according to His standards. Thanksgiving is not just a shallow statement of appreciation, nor is it borne from a sense of obligation. Thanksgiving is a willing sacrifice from the heart.

So, though not required, scripture does show us how important is thankfulness, and we learn that God appreciates and desires the expression of thanks.

We can recall the encounter Jesus had with the ten lepers to see all three features fulfilled.

Luk 17:11  Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
Luk 17:12  Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.
Luk 17:13  And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
Luk 17:14  So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16  and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17  So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
Luk 17:18  Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"
Luk 17:19  And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."

Jesus healed without requiring homage to him or the Father (the nine didn't become unclean again because they didn't give God praise), but He did expect them to obey the law (show themselves to the priests), and He shared a special bit of encouragement with the one leper who gave thanks, revealing a positive relationship in faith toward God.

And just like God our Father desires all mankind to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1Ti 2:4), He also desires His children be thankful in all things.

1Th 5:16  Rejoice always,
1Th 5:17  pray without ceasing,
1Th 5:18  in everythinggive thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

From the Apostle Paul we are further given wise instruction concerning how to behave toward God, and inherent to this behavior is this spirit of thanksgiving, a free will outflowing resulti of other qualities that fulfill the proper attitude of thanksgiving.

Eph 5:18  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Eph 5:19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Eph 5:20  giving thanks alwaysfor all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 5:21  submitting to one anotherin the fear of God.

Php 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Php 4:7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The contrary is an attitude of un-thankfulness that equates with futile thoughts and darkened hearts, qualities that will not be present in God’s Kingdom.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Rom 1:19  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Rom 1:20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Rom 1:21  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

God may not command thankfulness, but thankfulness is an imperative expression of trust in and reliance on God by those who own God’s Spirit, practicing the righteousness of God with a repentant heart.

Only people who accept a right relationship with God can be properly thankful, for we understand the favor God has already shown us, and we understand all the gifts God has bestowed on us, gifts we could never acquire ourselves.

And this leads us to how, even in trials, we can, of our own free will, as opposed to fulfilling an expectation, be thankful to God.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
1Pe 1:8  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1Pe 1:9  receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

When we have clearly in our minds our hope built upon the resurrection of Jesus which makes possible our own eternal salvation (the ultimate promise), no trial is so great as to damper the joy we possess by having that understanding, that along with our ongoing real-time relationship with God our Father and Jesus our Lord.

To conclude, while we ponder the plethora of opportunities to be thankful day by day, let us remember as we experience God’s grace and favor, what a great gift to God we provide when we give the sincere, thoughtful sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Comments

  • Sermons
    Hi Kelly, enjoyed your sermon theme on Giving Thanks to God. For some reason, or other, I'm not certain that I had focused as intently as you pointed out, that giving thanks is an extremely important component in acknowledging gratitude to God for all that He has done in our behalf, and all that He has given us in spite of the many wayward paths we so often chose to be distracted by. It makes perfect sense to do so, and I will, from this point in time thank Him for breathing the breath of life in me, an act of love. I appreciate you sharing that thought, and feel very fortunate to have come across your church, as if I was spiritually guided to do. I have been a member in Pittsburgh since March. of 2013, and to say it has been a life changer is an understatement. By the way Kelly, I took note that your sermon was shorter than the usual and customery 60 min. and it got me to thinking that this seems like more than enough time that a well thought out sermon need be allotted to get get the point across and have a measurable degree of impact on the brethren. Attention spans can only go so far, before minds begin drifting away. Off course hat may only occur amongst those.
  • Kelly Irvin
    Bill, thank you for your feedback. I am immensely encouraged that you express benefit from the shared subject of thanks. Glory to God for that which is revealed through His word and made plain in the Spirit. Have a great week!
  • Sermons
    Hi Kelly, enjoyed your sermon theme on Giving Thanks to God. For some reason, or other, I'm not certain that I had focused as intently as you pointed out, that giving thanks is an extremely important component in acknowledging gratitude to God for all that He has done in our behalf, and all that He has given us in spite of the many wayward paths we so often chose to be distracted by. It makes perfect sense to do so, and I will, from this point in time thank Him for breathing the breath of life in me, an act of love. I appreciate you sharing that thought, and feel very fortunate to have come across your church, as if I was spiritually guided to do. I have been a member in Pittsburgh since March. of 2013, and to say it has been a life changer is an understatement. By the way Kelly, I took note that your sermon was shorter than the usual and customery 60 min. and it got me to thinking that this seems like more than enough time that a well thought out sermon need be allotted to get get the point across and have a measurable degree of impact on the brethren. Attention spans can only go so far, before minds begin drifting away. Off course hat may only occur amongst those.
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