Thanksgiving by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 11, 1908

Thanksgiving

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

THE Word admonishes us to give “thanks always for all things . . . in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” Eph. 5:20, A. R. V. We are here exhorted to live in such a frame of mind that from the heart there will be continually springing up thanksgiving to God. Not much room given for murmuring, complaining, faultfinding, backbiting, or gossiping. All these are to be put aside, and we are instead to give thanks “always.” But who does this?—Surely everybody ought to, and if we had anything like a true conception of our Father’s mercy and protection for us, we would do so. Yet many, even when they pray, fail to mingle any thanksgiving with their petitions,—always asking for something and giving no thanks for that which they are continually receiving. Surely this is supreme selfishness.

And, further, we are to give thanks for “all things.” Mark the words, “All things.” Whether things go as I want them to, or think they should, I am to thank God just the same. It is altogether likely that if I saw as God sees, I would be thankful that I did not have my own way. When afflicted, or pressed with care, or perplexed, or despairing of success, if persecuted and apparently forsaken, or in danger, or delivered from all appearance of danger, in any and all the varied circumstances of life, “always,” and for “all things,” we are to thank God and be happy. When mocked, scoffed at, and lied about, we are not to get the blues, and seek revenge. All we have to do is to thank God that things are as good as they are, and be happy. What a different world this would be if all would heed this injunction!

Of course we all, if Christians, give thanks at times. If we are in an earthquake, and escape the débris alive, we have a period of giving thanks. But why should we not be even more thankful if we escape the earthquake altogether? Yet we seldom think of this. We are on a railroad train, a terrible wreck occurs, and a score or more of our fellow passengers are maimed and killed. We escape, and are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for his merciful care. But we take a long journey in a train and escape a wreck altogether. Are we as thankful then as if we had been wrecked and barely escaped with life? Or are we more thankful when we are wrecked, than when we are not? If so, why so? We are aroused from a burning building at night, and barely escape before the structure collapses. We are very thankful for the care and deliverance of our Lord. But we sleep all night, being shielded wholly from fire during the night. Are we as thankful in the morning as if the house had been burned over our head, and we barely escaped? But should we not be? We are sick and recover. We feel thankful to the Great Physician for healing us. But many go for months in robust health, and fail to be thankful. Should we not be as thankful for escaping sickness altogether as we are when restored to health when sick? But are we?

Let us learn to remember constantly that it is in Him that we “live, and move, and have our being;” that each moment that we live we have something for which to thank the Lord, that he hears our prayers and answers them, and we should therefore continually thank him for all his mercies. Shall we not be real Christians, and give thanks always for all things?

Takoma Park, D. C.