11-25-10
+Minns: Give Thanks IN All Things
“Give Thanks IN All Things”
A Meditation on Philippians 4 for Thanksgiving Day 2010
by the Rt. Rev’d Martyn Minns
Philippians chapter 4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Paul writes to the Christians in Philippi that rejoicing is to be in the Lord and in all circumstances. He urges them to be gentle in their dealings with others — they are not to stand on their “rights” but instead must be gracious and magnanimous towards others. He advises them to stop worrying about their problems — for to worry is to show a lack of confidence in God’s care and power. Instead, he invites them to pray with thanksgiving.
Paul is not asking them to give thanks FOR all circumstances but to give thanks IN all circumstances as they bring the issues that trouble them to the Lord. He also reminds them that as they turn to the Lord in prayer they will be able connect with the peace that God offers and that will transform their hearts and minds. Finally, he urges them to think about positive moral virtues and to put into practice the commands of God.
Thanksgiving and Peace and Joy do not come automatically. They will be constantly challenged by the world around us, which is why we have to take control over the way that we think. It isn’t easy but it can be done. Part of the problem is that our contemporary North American culture bombards us around the clock with materialism, violence, sexual lust, and with all kinds of stuff that is counter to the Kingdom of the Triune God.
The antidote is to do what Jesus did: to think differently — on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable". Thinking this way does not come naturally or easily but requires discipline and a dependence on the Spirit of God. However, Paul makes it clear that HOW we think — and WHAT we think about — profoundly affects our ability to rejoice in the Lord and to give thanks.
Paul also deals with something else that affects our joy and that is our attitude towards possessions so lets take a look at the next few lines of his letter to the Philippians:
4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it 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 plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Paul is grateful for their care and their remarkable generosity — they were the only church that supported him! — but he also wants to make the point that possessions will never bring true joy and contentment.
He also challenges a false teaching that still afflicts large sections of today’s church: “more is better and less is bad.” Paul teaches a very different message: contentment in any and every situation and being able to endure all hardships through Christ. This strikes at the heart of the so-called "prosperity gospel".
An important truth that Paul has internalized is that all that we have comes as a gift from God. This is a lesson that he learned as a boy from his study of the Torah: " . . . Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God . . . but remember the LORD your God . . ." (Deuteronomy 8). This is a lesson that we all need to keep relearning.
As we close out the church's liturgical calendar with this past Sunday's celebration of Christ the King and look forward to a new beginning with Advent, let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, renew our mind, and transform our lives with a fresh appreciation — a fresh thanksgiving — for all of the eternal truths, goodness, and beauty God has given us. For, living lives full of thanksgiving will speak volumes to those who live lives empty of such thankfulness. And on this Thanksgiving Day, let us turn our attention to the Triune God and declare with a hearty voice, “Thanks be to God!”
A Meditation on Philippians 4 for Thanksgiving Day 2010
by the Rt. Rev’d Martyn Minns
Philippians chapter 4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Paul writes to the Christians in Philippi that rejoicing is to be in the Lord and in all circumstances. He urges them to be gentle in their dealings with others — they are not to stand on their “rights” but instead must be gracious and magnanimous towards others. He advises them to stop worrying about their problems — for to worry is to show a lack of confidence in God’s care and power. Instead, he invites them to pray with thanksgiving.
Paul is not asking them to give thanks FOR all circumstances but to give thanks IN all circumstances as they bring the issues that trouble them to the Lord. He also reminds them that as they turn to the Lord in prayer they will be able connect with the peace that God offers and that will transform their hearts and minds. Finally, he urges them to think about positive moral virtues and to put into practice the commands of God.
Thanksgiving and Peace and Joy do not come automatically. They will be constantly challenged by the world around us, which is why we have to take control over the way that we think. It isn’t easy but it can be done. Part of the problem is that our contemporary North American culture bombards us around the clock with materialism, violence, sexual lust, and with all kinds of stuff that is counter to the Kingdom of the Triune God.
The antidote is to do what Jesus did: to think differently — on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable". Thinking this way does not come naturally or easily but requires discipline and a dependence on the Spirit of God. However, Paul makes it clear that HOW we think — and WHAT we think about — profoundly affects our ability to rejoice in the Lord and to give thanks.
Paul also deals with something else that affects our joy and that is our attitude towards possessions so lets take a look at the next few lines of his letter to the Philippians:
4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it 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 plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Paul is grateful for their care and their remarkable generosity — they were the only church that supported him! — but he also wants to make the point that possessions will never bring true joy and contentment.
He also challenges a false teaching that still afflicts large sections of today’s church: “more is better and less is bad.” Paul teaches a very different message: contentment in any and every situation and being able to endure all hardships through Christ. This strikes at the heart of the so-called "prosperity gospel".
An important truth that Paul has internalized is that all that we have comes as a gift from God. This is a lesson that he learned as a boy from his study of the Torah: " . . . Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God . . . but remember the LORD your God . . ." (Deuteronomy 8). This is a lesson that we all need to keep relearning.
As we close out the church's liturgical calendar with this past Sunday's celebration of Christ the King and look forward to a new beginning with Advent, let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, renew our mind, and transform our lives with a fresh appreciation — a fresh thanksgiving — for all of the eternal truths, goodness, and beauty God has given us. For, living lives full of thanksgiving will speak volumes to those who live lives empty of such thankfulness. And on this Thanksgiving Day, let us turn our attention to the Triune God and declare with a hearty voice, “Thanks be to God!”
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