Theme: Learning the Secret to Being Thankful
1) It is related to contentment.
2) It is a product of Christian maturity.
3) It is strengthened by Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:10-13 I rejoiced in the
Lord greatly that once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact,
concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don't say this
out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and
all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content-- whether well fed
or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things
through Him who strengthens me. (HCSB)
Philippians 4:13 is one of the most
well-known passages of the Bible and one of the most widely used. You often see
people use it in public. Athletes and celebrities are not afraid to quote it as
a measure of their confidence. Thanksgiving is one of the most widely
celebrated holidays in our nation. It’s fitting that it would go well with
Philippians 4:13. The idea of finding strength in Christ is just as popular as
gathering for Thanksgiving. But, what exactly does Christ empower us to do and
how is that connected to being thankful? This is the main thought we’ll focus
on today as we think about the secret to being thankful.
So often we associate power with getting
what we want, but is that what Christ is doing for us? The unique aspect of the
power of the Christian shows itself when we don’t have what we want and when
things aren’t going our way. Paul trusted in Christ’s power because He
absolutely needed it. And that power gave him confidence even when he was
lacking or was in need. In fact, it was in those very moments that the power of
Christ displayed itself most fully. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Here we see that being thankful is
closely connected to being content. It’s easy to act thankful when things are
going your way, but a heart of true gratitude shows itself when the going gets
tough. Paul writes that the power of Christ allowed him to master any situation
he was in. Whether he was having a good day or a bad day, he was thankful to
the Lord, and in large part because he was content. Paul knew what hardship
was. He described that in depth in another letter: 2 Corinthians 11:25-28
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was
shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often,
in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in
perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in
sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness-- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep
concern for all the churches.
Paul had physical toils and mental
concerns, but in all matters he was content. He learned the secret that His
Savior taught when He said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for
one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses (Luke
12:15)." Therein is why contentment is so important to thankfulness.
It’s not the perils of the world that will rob you of happiness, rather it’s
the riches and prosperity. Many, many people have fallen prey to the allurement
of greed, only to be “pierced through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).”
Part 2
However, as we know by experience,
contentment is not an easy virtue to have. It takes maturity. Paul doesn’t use
the word maturity in our text but it really comes out clearly in the way he
writes. You can almost sense the calm and peace with which Paul reflects on the
many trials of his life. He had grown and learned throughout the process. We
talk about the same thing, too, when it comes to the various tests that God
gives us, but it’s a lot harder to go through it.
It’s helpful to remember that God is
building our maturity as Christians. We know the same to be true in the much
smaller matters of life. As adults, we think of the things we spent our money
on when we were younger, the way in which we managed our time, and how we
treated others. Sometimes we cringe at those memories don’t we, but that’s
okay, because they are a testament to how much we have grown. Younger members
here are either in the process of experiencing this very thing or leading up to
it. If you can sense the value of maturity in those areas of life, how much
more so in your faith in God?
Paul also reflected on this very thing
in another letter, 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 But when that which is perfect has
come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I
spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I
became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly,
but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also
am known.
Notice how he applied his growth as an
individual directly to his earthly life as a Christian. As believers, we share
in the same struggle. We have a relationship with God by faith today, but
interacting with God is like looking at a fuzzy image in the mirror. We sense
that God is present in our lives but it’s hard to make out all the details
because our sins blur the image. We were created to be pure, crystal-clear,
reflections of our God but we have fallen significantly. Sometimes, our
wickedness is so prevalent that we can’t even see ourselves as His children,
let alone those who witness our actions, thoughts, and words in our lives.
Part 3:
Christian maturity is just how Paul
described it, it’s a mystery that must be revealed to us. It’s like finding the
answer to a secret. That answer, for us, and for all people, is Jesus. Colossians
2:2-3 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to
reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of
God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge. Here we see the importance of v.13 in our text and why
it is so treasured and beloved by Christians. Jesus reveals the mystery to us.
He tells us the secret to these hidden treasures of contentment, maturity, and
thankfulness. He gives us power to do the things that He has called us to do,
not the things that we wish or desire for ourselves. Perhaps, it is God’s will
that a particular possession be taken out of your life. Perhaps it’s His will
that you go without a certain need for a time. These are things that God has
every right to do and He calls you in Christ to trust His plan. Remember,
contentment and maturity are needed precisely in the hard times, not the easy
things.
We asked at the beginning, what exactly
does Christ empower us to do and what does that have to do with being thankful?
For many people, the power of Christ is a catchphrase, a popular statement that
sounds good, but is often thrown around devoid of the context in which Paul
wrote it.
Can we be thankful even if we don’t have
everything we want in life? Do we have strength in Christ even when things
aren’t going our way? Absolutely, in fact, that’s the true path to
thankfulness. If our gratitude and willingness to give thanks hinged only on
how good things were, there would be no need for Christ’s gifts of contentment
and maturity. If the measure of our thankfulness is having what we want, then
what happens when we don’t get our way? Our thankfulness will suffer.
Think of the story of the ten lepers.
All ten got what they wanted. Perhaps we could even say they got what they needed,
at least for their bodies. But even then it’s not as if good health is a given
here in life. But, even though all ten were healed, only one returned to thank
Jesus. They all received what must have been considered a basic life necessity,
namely good health, but it still didn’t lead to hearts of gratitude. Perhaps
those that didn’t return thanks did so because they were too busy looking for
the next thing they wanted, instead of being content with what they had. Maybe
they were so concerned about their physical bodies that they lacked the
maturity to realize that Jesus could help them with a much bigger disease than
leprosy.
Easy to judge from a distance isn’t it,
but we know these things to be real possibilities because thy same attitudes
have reared their ugly heads in our lives. Contentment and maturity stress to
us that Jesus helps us with much greater things than the things of this life
only. When we confess that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us,
are we thinking about the most important things? Remember, the kingdom of God
is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy
Spirit. Those blessings can’t be bought by money, only by perfect blood of
Jesus shed for sinners.
Solomon called the pursuit of only
worldly things “vanity”, when he wrote, Ecclesiastes 6:7-9 All the labor of
man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. 8 For what more has
the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk
before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of
desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Christ empowers us to something greater,
something eternal, and along the way He give us contentment and maturity to see
the difference. This is why we bless His holy name today, and return our thanks
for being healed. Amen.
The peace of God which surpasses all
understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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