“Marks of Methodism: Giving Thanks” 1 These 5:16-19 2 Cor 9:10-15

“Marks of Methodism: Giving Thanks” 1 These 5:16-19

2 Cor 9:10-15

This week, Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving, in homes and in communities, with friends and families. Many of us have fond memories about Thanksgiving and especially use this month to think about what they are thankful for. I even have friends who are intentionally thinking of at least one thing a day, each day throughout the month of November that they are thankful for.

But thankfulness, giving thanks, is not something that is contained to the month of November. And as wonderful as the holiday of Thanksgiving is, it also is not the only time in our lives to be reflective about what God has blessed us with. As Christians, we are to be giving thanks to God at all times and in all places. 

However, while we may thinking that giving thanks is simple, it doesn’t always make it easy. Think about the verses we read today - Paul is writing words of encouragement to these communities, but not everything among them is perfect. They are experiencing pressure from the outside world. They are not the dominant part of society by any means. Some they know have experienced persecution, and yet Paul has these words that are ringing out about giving thanks. 

In fact the words we heard from 1 Thessalonians are almost the last words penned in that particular letter - part of the benediction, or sending forth - and what does Paul say - “to give thanks in all circumstances.” How in the world are we supposed to do that? 

Honestly, as Christians, I think sometimes we misuse this verse. I still remember one of the hardest debates I was part of during my time in seminary was in this vein. Some people seemed to be claiming that “to give thanks in all circumstances” means that we need to be happy when we are in situations we would rather not be in - things like illness, losing a job, death. But that isn’t what Paul is saying here. He isn’t speaking about happiness, he is speaking about thankfulness. As Christians we need to be very careful about our wording here - because if we go around telling people to be happy, no matter what heartbreaking thing is happening in their lives, we may be creating a stumbling block between folks and Jesus. 

Instead, as we grow in faith, we realize that Paul is saying that we can give thanks in all circumstances, no matter how hard, not by our own power, but only though God’s grace and help. That debate we had in seminary - it really boiled down to this - folks asking if you could wave a magic want and not having those heartbreaking parts of your life happen, wouldn’t you always choose to do so? And surprisingly some of us answered no. Not because what we faced wasn’t earth-shattering at the time, but because that was a time when we grew closer to God. Felt the presence of God with us. Now that may not be true for everyone. And as Christians we certainly aren’t saying that we give thanks for the heartbreaking thing itself. But we realize that we can give thanks, because we do not walk through this life, joys and concerns, alone. We give thanks because our God is with us. 

We also give thanks because we worship the God of redemption. What do I mean by that? I mean our God can take that which we offer and make something beautiful out of it. What do I not mean - I don’t mean that God causes the awful things we go through in our lives. Recently I was listening to This American Life, which weaves together stories of people like you and I, every day people who do extraordinary things. I have been listening to this show for years, but just a few weeks ago I heard the first story that made me cry, I was so deeply moved. Sandy and Lonnie Phillips lost their daughter in the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Since then, they have traveled across the United States when there are mass shootings to simply be a presence. Someone for folks who are grieving to connect with. To say, I’ve been there. They talk with other parents like themselves and just listen. Cry. And support hurting communities. Why? So that no one has to be alone. 

Now I’m sure if you asked the Phillips’s if they wished their daughter was still alive today, they would answer yes in a resounding heartbeat. But they know that out of their pain they have a gift to offer other families, so they go and love strangers. Something that they would not be able to do by their own strength. They admit that this work is hard, but it is also their call, coming out of the darkness of grief. I don’t know if the Phillip’s are people of faith, but I cried in the car that day thinking that is redemption. That is God’s grace and help and presence. 

Another facet of thanksgiving is found in 2 Corinthians 9. The crux of this chapter is talking about helping other churches, believers helping believers. Paul is reminding the church in Corinth that everything that they have received has first come from God, therefore they are to thank God for their incredible gifts by giving back. 

When I read Paul’s words, I am reminded that gratitude is rooted in God’s nature, not in how we feel at any given time. What is great about this time of the year is that we actually take time to think about what we have to be thankful for, but God is still the God who deserves our thanks and praise, even when we forget. Even we get busy. Even when we aren’t as attentive. Gratitude is our Christian response to God, because God has richly blessed us in Jesus Christ. Thanks should be our first response when we realize that God helped us. 

When John Wesley prayed, he set aside a whole day to reflect back on his week and say thank you. This is not to say that he didn’t say thank you through the week as well. But on Saturday, during his prayer time, he reflected on all that had happened during his week and the ways that God had provided. He was able to thank God for walking with him through the difficult times. And praise God for the times of blessings. 

Recently, I was talking to one of the folks helping out at a funeral service. He commented that when you go to a United Methodist Funeral, for the most part you may hear a different sermon and different hymns are sung, but overall the Word of God is proclaimed in a similar liturgy. I believe that is because the Words that we say, especially during difficult times in life are powerful. So I want to leave us this day with the words of the prayer of thanksgiving, as we leave to celebrate this particular holiday this week: God of love, we thank you for all with which you have blessed us even to this day: for the gift of joy in days of health and strength and for the gift of your abiding presence and  promise in days of pain and grief. We praise you for home and friends, and for our baptism and place in your Church with all have faithfully lived and died. Above all else we thank you for Jesus, who knew our griefs, and died our death and rose for our sake, and who lives and prays for us.

May we be a thankful people, who take time to praise our God, no matter what we may face, in all times and in all places. Amen.