If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want matter for thanksgiving in every thing. We shall see cause to give thanks for sparing and preventing, for common and uncommon, past and present, temporal and spiritual mercies. Not only for prosperous and pleasing, but also for afflicting providences, for chastisements and corrections; for God designs all for our good, though we at present see not how they tend to it. – Matthew Henry

Thankfulness, gratitude, and contentment all go hand in hand, and they ought to be the mark of every true believer in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, thanklessness, ingratitude, and discontent also go hand in hand they mark the unbeliever.

Thanksgiving Day is upon us, a day specifically set aside to give thanks to God. As Christians, we who are recipients of the grace and mercy of God, our lives ought to be characterized by thankfulness, gratitude and contentment.

While this is not always the case, our thanksgiving to God should be “wrapped up” in contentment. I believe this is what Paul is addressing here in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

To give thanks “in all circumstances” is in essence to be thankful and content in the sovereignty of God in whatever situation we find ourselves. This means giving thanks while resting in His goodness in all situations, knowing that while we may not understand it all, every situation we find ourselves in is for His glory and for our good. As Matthew Henry puts it:

“……Not only for prosperous and pleasing, but also for afflicting providences, for chastisements and corrections; for God designs all for our good, though we at present see not how they tend to it.”

Since the sovereign God designs all things for our good, not only are to be called to give thanks “in everything”, we are also called to give thanks “for everything”. This may come as a shock to some people as I have heard more than one sermon in my lifetime telling us the Bible tells us to give thanks “in everything”, but not “for everything”.

Well, the Bible does tell us to give thanks “for everything”.  Ephesians 5:20 –

“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. I never understood this scripture as a young believer, but over time, I have come to understand that this command to give thanks “for everything” is not based on my feelings about the situation or circumstances, but on the goodness and sovereignty of God.

This is not a command to feel thankful for the terrible things that happen to us, this is a command to give thanks with the Father and the son as the object of our thanksgiving. I love how Joni Eareckson Tada puts it  here “……We may not feel thankful for the terrible things that happen to us (and God is not asking us to feel thankful); but we are commanded to give thanks, always with the Father and the Son as our focus, always seeking His point of view, always looking at things from His heavenly perspective. For when we give thanks for everything in the name of Jesus, it really is asking us to look at the awful stuff from Jesus’ vantage point. And we can do that because EVERYTHING friend, EVERYTHING falls within the overarching decrees of God’s sovereignty.”

She goes on to say, “Ephesians 5:20, giving thanks for everything in the name of Jesus, well; it’s one of those “deep calls to deep” commands. In closing, I do thank God for my paralysis. I couldn’t have done that years ago.”

I think one of the reasons people struggle with Ephesians 5:20 is because we tend to equate giving of thanks to exuberant singing and jubilation. While this can sometimes be the case when we give thanks, a life of thanksgiving and gratitude is not always characterized by exuberant singing and jubilation. In such a case, giving thanks becomes a lifestyle, an attitude of mind. Here is part of Matthew Henry’s commentary on Ephesians 5:20:

“Though we are not always singing, we should be always giving thanks; we should never want disposition for this duty, as we never want matter for it, through the whole course of our lives. Always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things; being satisfied of their loving intent, and good tendency.”

I say Amen to that! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Soli Deo Gloria!