Thanksgiving Day service 2019
Theme: Being Thankful is “Great Gain”
1. When it is present in all circumstances
2. When it is directed at all people
3. When it serves Jesus
Dear friends in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior,
1 Timothy 6:6 reads, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. This single verse is really the entire thrust of the sermon today. This is the central point. If you come away from today’s service with a better understanding of “godliness with contentment” then the goal of this sermon will have been met.
Now, we can summarize our message in this passage but we’re not going to leave it there. We read also from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 in order to better explore the depth of being thankful through faith in Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:1-7 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Today we come to learn from God’s Word that Being Thankful is “Great Gain”
1. When it is present in all circumstances
2. When it is directed at all people
3. When it serves Jesus
Has thankfulness gone out of style? Based on the traffic at the airport yesterday or the crowds flocking to the grocery stores, I would say “no.” Thanksgiving is as big a holiday as it’s ever been. Ah, but that’s not the question. It’s easy for us to associate the virtue of thankfulness with the holiday. But just because someone celebrates Thanksgiving Day does not mean they’re thankful. Indeed, much of the holiday of Thanksgiving has little to say of a person’s attitude. Thanksgiving for many represents time with family, eating lots of food, watching football, and more recently, going shopping for Christmas gifts. While we can be thankful for each of those things, simply celebrating the holiday doesn’t guarantee that.
So, has thankfulness gone out of style? Well, as the Bible describes it, in many ways it has. From our text today, we see three primary, meaning essential, elements to being thankful as a Christian – in a way that 1 Timothy 6:6 says is “great gain.” In chapter 2 God is described what “godliness with contentment” looks like in real time. The first of those essential elements is being thankful in all circumstances. Now, this is where we lean a but more on 1 Timothy 6:6 in order to help us better understand our text. In that verse, Paul mentions the key to being thankful in our actions, and its something that starts in the heart – contentment. Paul says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment is not something you can measure or quantify. You can’t see into a person’s heart or attitude to tell how much contentment they have. But, contentment is displayed through thankfulness. And the Bible makes the case that we can be content and therefore, thankful in all circumstances. In another of Paul’s writings he says,
Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
So often we think that the situation we’re in warrants the reaction we display in our lives. But Paul says that’s not the case for the Christian. We can be content and thankful in any situation – good or bad – not because of the situation itself but because of what God does for us. That’s where we pair “godliness” with contentment and get great gain.
Too often, people settle for a false, cheap thankfulness in their life because they’re not really content. For example, consider the Pharisee who said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector (Luke 18:11).” Here he gives thanks but it’s not true thankfulness because it has neither godliness nor contentment. Choosing for yourself when to be thankful to God and when to be angry, vengeful, and discontent with your surroundings is not thankfulness.
As we might expect, being thankful in all circumstances naturally flows into being thankful toward all people. Here’s where we jump back into our text. The emphasis on God’s care and compassion for all people certainly has implications on being thankful in all circumstances. You’ll notice, God clearly wants us to be thankful toward all people – especially as it relates to our prayer life. The topic of thankfulness is another type of prayer that Paul mentions, in addition to supplications, intercessions, and just plain general prayers. The key thought to remember is that all our prayers, when focused on others, is to be directed at their well-being.
Paul also looked specifically at those in authority. He especially singles out leaders in society and tells Timothy to pray for them. It’s not easy to pray for those in authority, especially secular leaders. We understand this well. We live in freedom and like to be in control. We often cringe or balk at the notion of obeying others, even more so if we disagree with their leadership.
Perhaps politicians come to mind, but our lives are full of other authority figures as well. Parents. Law enforcement personnel. Pastors and teachers. Managers and bosses. God explains throughout His Word that He expects us to obey these individuals and submit to them. There are obviously exceptions but in most circumstances this expectation stands as it’s written.
But how easily our contentment, thankfulness, and prayers dry up when we’re dealing with authority figures. Instead of respecting government officials, we stop at nothing to discredit their policy and even their personhood. We feel justified in not submitting to them if we think that they are wrong – even though they often provide a host of other blessings that we blind ourselves to. Think of the culture Paul and Timothy were in. Do we feel like we have bad leaders today? Their government outlawed the Christian faith and sanctioned imprisonment, mistreatment and death to Christians. Yet God said to them – be thankful and pray for those in authority.
The same is true of parents. Is it healthy for children to only listen and respect mom and dad when they agree with their rules? How would that look in our families? What about church leaders? Is the pastor only worth praying for his sermons are inspiring? Shall we shut down and ignore him if he teaches something we don’t like?
There are no perfect leaders – in society, in the church, or in home. If you’re waiting for that in order to be thankful it will obviously never happen. If you only pray for your leaders when they do what you want, how is that attitude flowing from free grace you’ve received from God? And just because someone is in the public eye doesn’t mean that their good name and reputation is fair game to be torn to shreds.
The point is well understood in our text. Christians are to pray for all people – with thanksgiving. God knows how difficult this is to do toward those in authority, especially when we disagree with them and if we feel unfairly treated by them. But that situation doesn’t change what God has said, in fact, it emphasizes the need for prayer even more. The importance of this is given in God’s reasoning for it, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. Respecting, obeying, and praying for those in authority helps keep our lives stable in peace and dignity, and in this kind of setting the good news of Jesus our Savior thrives.
We’re also told that when we pray for others it serves Jesus. The text continues by saying, This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. The way we think of others and treat them stems from how much God loves them. It’s God’s desire that all would be saved and come to know Jesus as their one Mediator. That message – the gospel – is clear when we display our Savior’s love toward others – especially among those with whom we have a disagreement.
The “great gain” of thankfulness and prayer is produced by salvation in Jesus Christ. To be clear – no one is saved by your own godliness or excellence of faith. The point is that the pathway to Jesus is open when you are thankful, when you are content, when you love your enemies, and when you care for all people – even wicked leaders. When you lack thankfulness. When your contentment is overcome with petty jealousy and gossip – the pipeline to the gospel through your confession becomes constricted. And it doesn’t only affect others who might have the opportunity to hear about Jesus through you, it affects your faith too.
We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In these words, we’re expressing the “great gain” of what Christ has accomplished for us. We have been forgiven. Yes, you, today, who did not deserve Christ’s love because of your wickedness and evil – you are forgiven. That’s great gain indeed. But now, you can forgive others in like kind. There’s where the thankfulness manifests itself. Not the thankfulness of the Pharisee, who only expressed it in word because he compared himself to his neighbor. That’s common, ordinary, and worldly.
Godliness with contentment is much different. It can be present at all times. It can be directed at all people. Those who are special qualities. But most important, it serves Jesus because reflects back the love He gave to you. Jesus didn’t wait for you to show your holiness before He loved you and His gave His life for you. The Bible says, Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Indeed, what great gain this has been for us and we want others to have that same gift. Amen.
Thankfulness and prayer, when put together at all times and toward all people, are powerful tools to keep the gospel living and active in your life. May God continue to strengthen you through the love of Jesus, and may that gift remain active in you through godliness and contentment. Amen.
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