The opposite of thanksgiving is complaining.
Let me start today's sermon with a joke about complaining. ☺
"A guy goes to the doctor and starts complaining:
- Doctor, help me, I just can't sleep! I live in a neighbourhood with a lot of dogs. When I go to sleep, one of them always barks, and then the whole pack is barking under my window all night long.
The doctor takes a vial from the cabinet.
- You are lucky. I've just got this super strong sleeping pill, you'll see, it'll help you sleep well at night.
Two weeks later, the patient comes back looking even more tired, if possible.
- So what, the sleeping pills didn't work? - asks the doctor, startled.
- Terrible, doctor. By the time I finally catch all the dogs and shove them down their throats, the night will be over..."
https://www.viccesviccek.hu/kutya-viccek&honnan=70
Is there anyone who complains? I suppose I'm the only one, but I've complained several times in my life because my circumstances were so difficult. I know I'm not alone, everyone complains from time to time.
Vous.hu article: 'I did the impossible - I tested how long I can go without complaining' In our series of interviews with Hungarians living abroad, I usually ask what are the most characteristic features of the people of the country in question. I've learned that South Koreans are extremely hard-working, Italians are open and lively, and the French are a polite nation. But what would a foreigner say about us Hungarians in a similar situation? We certainly like to complain."
Today's passage encourages us to live our lives with thanksgiving instead of complaining. The first and last sentences are the same: "Give thanks, my soul, to the Lord" (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is not easy, because we are not by nature grateful people.
Psalm 103
This morning I want to talk about a God who is worthy of praise, worship and thanksgiving. Psalm 103 (Dear reader, read Psalm 103 yourself)
David wrote this Psalm, and although he was a king, he did not have an easy life. He must have written it at the end of his life, because it describes very wise things. David CALLS UPON HIS SOUL to give thanks to God. He is talking to himself, he is encouraging himself! Many times thanksgiving does not come from within ourselves in our lives, but is a matter of will and perspective. E.g. The glass is half empty or half full.
Help with Thanksgiving: MEMORIES. Remember how much good He has done in our lives. Many times we are so forgetful. When we get in trouble, we may cry out: God help us, but when we come out of the trouble we forget all about it. Sometimes it is good just to remember how much good we have received from God. God has been there for you when you didn't even think it, and He has taken care of you. If you knew how much trouble you have not gotten into because God has protected you, you would certainly be amazed.
Why should we give thanks to the Lord? For the physical and spiritual benefits we have received from Him.
- We can be grateful for the physical things in our lives. He fills your life with his goods, your youth is renewed like the eagle's.(5) I remember when I was 23 years old and started on God's path, I never imagined that God would bless me with so many things. America, Judith, Darius, church, ministry, adoption.
- He will heal all your diseases (3) You know that when you were taken into the operating room, God was there with you, holding the doctor's hand so he wouldn't miss. Do you know that when that accident happened, God commanded his angels to watch over you so you wouldn't die. Of course, God can choose not to heal you, and that is His sovereign decision that we don't understand, but we trust that He is Good and has good reason. The good news is that a believer CAN CERTAINLY BE HEALED, WHETHER HERE ON EARTH OR IN HEAVEN. ☺
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
But this Psalm speaks much more about something else, namely spiritual blessings. He forgives all your sins (3). The Lord is merciful and gracious, longsuffering, great is his love. He does not chide to the end, nor does His wrath endure forever. He does not deal with us according to our transgressions, nor does he pay us according to our iniquities. FOR AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS ARE ABOVE THE EARTH, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. As far as the seast is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
A psychiatrist once told me that if he could assure his patients that they were forgiven for their sins, a good number of them could be released. But he cannot do that, but God can. Not because he simply condones your sins, but because someone has suffered the punishment for you. The precious blood of Jesus Christ was shed for you on the cross, so God will forgive your sins if you come to Him. WE CAN GIVE THANKS FOR CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS AND REDEMPTION.
One last thing to be thankful for: it redeems your life from the grave. The Psalm says that a man's life is like grass that will eventually dry up. But when our life on earth ends, we need not fear if we trust in God, for He will redeem us from the grave. John 3:16 Of course, earthly things are important, but what is more important is what will happen when our earthly journey ends. The only condition for this is that we must believe in Jesus, which means giving our whole life to Him.
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THANKSGIVING
IMPORTANT: Thanksgiving is for our benefit. God doesn't give us commands like a selfish dictator, but commands that are for our good because He loves us and wants what is good for us. Have you ever thought that God wants good for you? What He does and says and demands is all for your good? How is thanksgiving for our good? (Without claiming completeness):
- Thanksgiving will save you from complaining. We have already talked about this. If we make a habit of giving thanks, then we will be a GOOD FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST in the world. People will see that you are different from the world, and they might start to wonder how do you do it? And then don't start talking about yourself, but it will be an occasion to tell them about God and lift up His glory before men. Who knows, maybe that interest will one day turn into a serious conversion?
- Thanksgiving will save you from worry. Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and supplication always present your requests to God with thanksgiving. (Phil 4:6) Many people in the world today are anxious. About the future, especially. Spurgeon says that 90% of what we worry about will never happen, and what does happen is usually not as bad as we imagine. Moreover, God SEES AND LOVES ALL of us, and will help us not to fall apart. That's why thanksgiving helps. When the worry and negative thoughts come, start giving thanks to God.
- The inner Thanksgiving gives peace. . . . and the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) This peace is not like the peace of the world, which lasts only as long as things are right. If we make a habit of thanksgiving in our lives, we will have a peace from God that transcends all understanding and is good for our physical health (stress, panic disorder, high blood pressure, heart problems, . . .)
- Thanksgiving will save you from bitterness. There is another thing that is very dangerous in the life of a believer, and that is bitterness. Be careful that no one turns away from the grace of God, lest the root of bitterness grow up and cause harm and infect many. (Hebrews 12:15) Bitterness is like a cancerous tumor that grows and destroys everything. It is also dangerous to others. The best antidote is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, plucks out this root and removes the danger.
I would like to finish with some verses from Psalm 50:
„Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”” Psalm 50:14-15 ESV
God created man to praise Him. Instead, many people turn their backs on Him completely and scold Him, revile Him, or are indifferent to Him. Today is the time to change that. Let's start remembering, let's start giving thanks, and we will experience the peace that only God can give to our hearts.