HERE IS HOW TO BE THANKFUL!
Some of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was a message in thanksgiving. In chapter eleven he outlines what he had endured in his work as a preacher. Twice in chapter twelve he wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities…” (2 Cor. 12:9) and “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities…” (2 Cor. 12:10). He earlier had written that “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us” (2 Cor. 4:7). He also had said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of… (1 Cor. 9:16). Paul’s emphasis was not on himself but on the gospel. He would gladly spend and be spent for the sake of souls (2 Cor. 12:15). Put another way, Paul didn’t whine about his difficulties. Enter thankfulness, exit whining!
His thankfulness was also expressed when he wrote:
“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed–
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Cor. 4:8-10, NKJV).
Paul said he was pressed but not crushed. Things were hard but Paul wasn’t giving up. The Corinthians had questioned his apostleship; he had supported himself and dealt with those who ridiculed him but in spite of all that he didn’t whine. Bro. Burton Coffman in his commentary put it like this, “his enemies had chased him everywhere, but were never able to hem him in.” Exit whine, enter thankfulness.
Paul said he was perplexed but not in despair. He was uncertain but wasn’t standing around wringing his hands saying, “Oh, woe is me.” Even though there were many disorders in Corinth Paul did not give in to despair. Enter thankfulness, exit whining.
Paul said he was persecuted but not forsaken. In Acts 23 forty men declared they would neither eat nor drink until Paul was dead. That would make you want to run and hide, wouldn’t it? He knew he had not been forsaken by the Lord. Thankfulness is recognizing that God is with us as he promised (Heb.13:5). Enter thankfulness, exit whining.
Paul said he was struck down but not destroyed. Paul was knocked down but not out. Remember he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). Enter thankfulness, exit whining.
Matthew Henry lived from 1662 to 1714. Perhaps you have heard of Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible. As the story goes he was on his way to a preaching appointment when he was robbed. His mind took him to the thought that you are to be thankful in every situation, so how could he do this? Here is what he said, “First,” he said, “I am thankful I have never been robbed before. Second, I am thankful he took my money and not my life. Third, I am thankful he did not take more; he could have taken my horse and my clothes as well. Next, I am thankful that what I had stolen from me really did not amount to very much. Then I am grateful that what I lost, in time, could be replaced. But, finally, and most importantly, I am thankful that I was the one robbed and not the robber!”
Now that is how to be thankful.
Larry