Contentment and Thanksgiving

    I think this cartoon hits the nail on the head don’t you?  Once a year we take some time to focus on the concept of thanksgiving.  And yet, we have so much for which we should be thankful.  Why is it that it’s so hard for us to think on the concept of thanksgiving more?

Last Sunday night we gathered our youth together for a Thanksgiving service, and in putting it together I think we learned some very important things.  First, one of the big reasons we have trouble with thanksgiving is that we’re actually not even content.  We always feel like we need something more.  Part of that is fed by the commercialism of society.  And let’s be honest, when you’re being hit by 3,000 advertising images a day, most of which seek to tell you, “you can’t really be happy/sucessfull/attractive/popular/smart/etc without our product, product X.  But if you just get this then you will finally be fulfilled!” 

We know that’s a crock, and yet on some level we buy into it.

Of course, part of the reason we’re not content is becuase of legitimate complaints.  There are problems and burdens in our life.  So what do we do?  Do we just suck it up and ignore all of this?

No.  That’s not the secret to contentment.  Think of the example of David.  How many psalms of lament did he write.  Read them, Psalm 3 for example.  He starts off with complaints, but he eventually  moves to praise of God.  How’s he do it?

Well, Paul let’s us in on the secret.  And he calls in just that in Phil 4.  “I know what is is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plent or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength”.  You see, the secret of contentment is what he lays out in the rest of the chapter, to give everything over to God in prayer, and then to just focus on seeking after him, to seek his peace, to focus on what is noble, right, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.  If you put yourself in the midst of God’s things and thrust your cares on him, he will give the gift of contentment, whatever your situation.  It won’t necessarily make the junk go away, but you can find peace and contenentment.

And then you come to the best part.  As you’re seeking God’s things, as you’re focusing on him, you can discipline yourself to give thanks.  You start to notice all the wonderful things with which he surrounded you.  There are the obvious ones- homes, food, clothes, toys.  . . .The others that we give thanks for regularly- family, friends, church. . . And then there are ones we start to notice that aren’t so obvious maybe, but are still incredible gifts- the sunshine that lifts our spirits, the freedom to worship, art, literature, movies that insprie us.  The list goes on.

So take up the challenge in this cartoon, and take up the challenge we gave to our youth.  Don’t let Thankgsiving be just one day a year.  We gave our youth stickers to put on an object that they’re thankful for (or something that reminds them of their focus), and asked that whenever they saw that sticker, they would take  a moment to pray thanksgiving to God.  I challenge you to do this, or something similar, as well.  Give thanks!