Thanksgiving
November 26,2006
By: Sellers S. Crain, Jr.
The giving of thanks is not an American creation, but Thanksgiving Day is. Although we normally credit our pilgrim forefathers at Plymouth Colony with having the first Thanksgiving in 1621, it wasn't until November 26, 1789 that the first national day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed by President George Washington. It was revived by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at a time when there did not seem to be much to be thankful for. It was during the heated battles of the Civil War. As a result of a joint resolution of Congress in 1941 during another war, the fourth Thursday of November was designated as a national day of Thanksgiving.
What significance does Thanksgiving have for Christians? The Bible has much to say about "thanksgiving". The Jews celebrated the Day of Pentecost, which was a celebration of the harvest (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:15-23; Acts 2:1). In addition to this, there are many references in the Old Testament to the offering of thanks to God for various blessings (Leviticus 7:12-15; Nehemiah 12:8, 27; Amos 4:5). There are also numerous references in the New Testament to the giving of thanks to God (Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2; 2 Timothy 2:1; 4:3-4). Paul wrote that Christians should "in everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Everything covers all things. So while there is no one day set aside in scriptures for Christians to observe a yearly day of Thanksgiving, we are made to understand that every day should be a day of Thanksgiving.
There is much to be said for having a national day of Thanksgiving. First, it causes people in our nation to reflect on God as the "giver of all good and perfect gifts" (James 1:17). Second, it is a day that brings forth "many thanksgivings unto God" (2 Corinthians 9:11,12). In the aftermath of the devastating hurricanes and tornadoes that struck our nation last year, people from all across America responded with an outpouring of compassion and generosity. Even though it was people who responded, the one phrase that kept coming back in the interviews with people who had been recipients of this caring was "I am so thankful to God." Third, it reminds us that we are dependent upon a power greater than ourselves. Who controls the elements of nature? Who can provide us with sufficient rain and sunshine to produce our food? Who can insure that the earth will continue its orderly path around the sun and continuing to provide a habitat planet for us to live on? Apart from God, we have no answers to these and other penetrating questions. Fourth, it is a reminder of how blessed we are in this nation. Even though reports are that we have more than 25 million people living below the poverty line with that number growing every year, and more than 10 million living in the worst depravation, more than 80% of this world's population lives in conditions far worse than the worst conditions in our nation. This includes many in Africa, India and China, as well as parts of central and south America. Fifth, it is a wonderful time for families to come together to share in God's blessings and to be thankful.
For Christians every day presents an opportunity to give thanks to God for all of His blessings, love, and tender mercies toward us. In His Prayer of example, Jesus taught us to be thankful for "daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), but he also reminded us that "man does not live by bread alone" (Matthew 4:4). We should be thankful for "every spiritual blessing" God provides (Ephesians 1:3). Among all of our blessings, we should be thankful for the sacrifice of Christ, for our salvation, for the word of God given to guide us, the Holy Spirit to comfort us, for the church Jesus purchased with His own blood, for brothers and sisters in Christ, for Christian homes and families, and for so many other things which God in Hid goodness has provided. Let us enjoy the national day of Thanksgiving, but as Christians let us make every day "Thanksgiving Day".
Brotherly,
Sellers
