There is an old story of a person who used to complain because he had no shoes, until he saw someone who had no feet. There is little doubt that we all can find things to complain about, if we so choose. The other side of that story is that we all could also find something for which to give thanks if we look around a little more or perhaps a little harder. There is always someone who is in worse condition than we find ourselves in. I believe this is often a matter of which we had rather be: thankful or hateful. Thanksgiving – genuine thanksgiving – is a matter of the heart. It is an attitude, or spirit, that is learned. Isn’t being hateful or ungrateful much the same thing?
In Luke’s gospel (18:9-14), he recorded a story – a parable – told by Jesus about two men who were quite opposite. One was a Pharisee and the other a Publican (tax collector). Both men had gone to the temple to pray. Both men indeed prayed, but their prayers were quite different from each other. One gave thanks to God, while the other only asked God for something. Which one of them would you think was pleasing to God? Jesus said, “One of them went back home justified rather than the other one.”
At first, we might think the Pharisee was the one who prayed correctly, because he was the one who gave thanks. Actually, if we look a little closer, we might see that everything he gave thanks for was self-centered. He thanked God that he was not like other men. He even named them. They were extortioners, unjust, adulterers and a tax collector, who happened to be praying right beside him. He didn’t give thanks for what he was, but for what he wasn’t. He actually bragged on himself at the expense of others. Perhaps even congratulated God for doing such a good job on him. He went on to remind God – and inform his prayer partner – of some of the good things he did. That included fasting twice each week and giving tithes of all he possessed. The Publican, on the other hand, did not give thanks at all. He would not even look up toward Heaven. He only asked for something, but he did only ask for only one thing. He asked for God’s mercy.
Which of those two men would you suppose was actually thankful? Is it possible that we could pray a prayer of thanksgiving, yet not really be thankful? Is it possible that we might not verbally give thanks, and even ask God for something, yet be thankful? Am I being fair to say that of those two men, one was hateful and one was thankful?
I do believe we should give thanks. I believe we should pray prayers of thanksgiving. I believe we should be sincere in our thanksgiving and certainly not use them as a tool of hatred toward others.
This little rhyme may sum it up best. “Too many a discontented mourner, is spending his life on grumble corner – sad and sour, whom I long to entreat, to find himself a house, on thanksgiving street.” Some of us may need to move – to relocate to thanksgiving street. Most of us have far too much for which to give thanks to spend our days passing out complaints. May our prayer of petition be, “God help me to be more thankful and less hateful.” My prayer for you is that you have a wonderful holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com or 334-728-5514 (office).
