George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving on November 26, 1789. “It was a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed with grateful and thankful hearts for the many favours and blessings of an Almighty God.” – Wikipedia. Is it possible for a people and a nation to forget God? YES! (Deut.6:11-12, Psa. 33:12; 9:17; 78:41-52). Israel in fullness forgot God. It now seems that in fullness America has forgotten God. Thanks-giving means giving-thanks. Is it possible to grumble, gripe and be grateful at the same time?. NO! First, how many complaining Christians do you know? Think about it! Complainers remind me of The Toddler’s Creed: “If I want it, it’s mine. If I give it to you and I change my mind later, it’s mine. If I can take it away from you, it’s mine. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine. If it’s mine, it will never belong to anybody else, no matter what. If it looks like mine, it is mine. If it’s broken, it’s yours!” – Anon.
Now, how many contented Christians do you really know? The story is told of a complaining farmer who grew tired of his mundane farm life. Finally, he decided to sell his farm. The real estate broker prepared an ad that emphasized all the farm’s great advantages: ideal location, modern equipment, healthy stock, acres of fertile ground, beautiful scenery, privacy, beautiful lake, and peaceful estate. When the farmer read the ad he cried out, “Hold everything! I’ve changed my mind. I’ve been looking for a place like that all my life.” Don’t look at what you have lost, but look at what you have left. While most of the world is facing famine, pestilence, starvation, and religious persecution, America is still greatly blessed. We all should be thankful that we are Americans. Many countries want what we have.
We need to learn that the best things in life are not things, but people. “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Start Now, “ONE – name it. Now continue counting.
As the farmer, let’s re-look at what we have. Let us look and learn to be contented Christians. “But godliness with contentment is great gain…And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (I Tim. 6:6-8). Complaining as children is natural, but contentment is un-natural and must be learned. Paul said, “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil. 4:11). He learned to be content whether he was: abased or abounding, full or hungry, suffering or surviving (Phil. 4:12).
This Thanksgiving season, we should all take time to think and thank God for his many benefits and blessings. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalms 103:2). This Thanksgiving let’s think and be thankful and don’t let abundance cause amnesia.
