Thanksgiving and the Epistles

What was Paul thankful for? On what occasion did he find to give thanks to God? And what does it matter to Jr. Highers?

Tough questions that will all come to a head in the next couple weeks of Jr. High youth group.

Paul was thankful for all these things and it was very clear that he understood the place of thanksgiving in his life (the attitude not the holiday). It is a constant attitude and action. Paul mentions it third in his list of continual actions in 1 Thessalonians 5. It isn't the only time that he looks for thanksgiving in every action. Colossians 3.17 says: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Paul not only saw thanksgiving as an attitude for life but also an integral part of prayer life. It is interesting how often thanksgiving is attached to our prayer life. Paul reminds us in Phil 4.6 to present our prayers of thanksgiving to God. All to often our prayer lives return to our needs and concerns; but time is rarely spent on thanking him for the work he has already done. But what did Paul really have to say about thanksgiving and what was he thankful for:

(1) Paul thanks God because of the community he is in. In many of the letters that Paul writes he affirms the community of believers with thanksgiving for them. Granted, he upholds different aspects of that community in his thanksgiving (to the Romans he is thankful for their faith [1.8]; to the Corinthians it is the grace God has given in his dealings with them [1 cor. 1.4]; to the Ephesians he is tankful for their faith and their love for one another [1.15]; to the Thessalonians not once but twice [1.2; 1.3]; to Philemon [1.4-5]) but ultimately it is the chance to be in a loving community to of faith that Paul is drawn to. He instructs Timothy to pray and give thanks for all people during the course of his worship (1 Tim. 2.1-2).

(2) Paul is thankful for the gift of salvation. Romans 6.17-18: "But thanks be to God that, through you used to be slaves to sin...you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 7.25 seems to echo that same sentiment. Thankfulness for the gift of salvation is rampant through the works of Paul. The life that he was saved from through his encounter on the Damascus road is a gift that he is thankful for.

(3) Paul is appreciative of the grace that God has lavished upon him (2 Cor. 9.15). Paul is no stranger to the grace of God. He refers to himself as the "worst of sinners" (1 Tim. 1.12ff.). He holds himself up as an example of God's patience and grace. The same can be said of us. We have tested and expended the grace of God...and if God weren't all that he is our lives should have ended by now. Paul understands that the gesture of grace and the gift of grace is a call for thanksgiving.

Paul's thanksgiving was foundational to his contentment in life (Philippians 4.12) and it is key to our own contentment. If we are able to give thanks where thanks is due, it shows that we understand who is in control which allows us to recognize the provisions of God. Contentment lies in knowing the effort; love; and lengths to which God has striven for us. This isnt just a problem for Jr. Highers but for all of us.