CAN WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR EVERYTHING?
Recently in Auckland, a Christian father went to help a victim of abuse and was fatally stabbed in the process.
Can the Christian widow give thanks to the Lord for everything and for all circumstances?
A Christian was returning home by bus after a prayer meeting and was fatally wounded in a robbery shortly after he alighted at his usual bus stop.
Can we give thanks for everything that happens to us and in our lives?
Is this what the Bible tells us to do as in 1 Thess 5:18 and Eph 5:20 - both verses instructing us to give thanks?
1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Does the Bible instruct us to give thanks for all circumstances - even when our loved ones are stricken with disease or we lose our jobs or evil happens to us?
Clearly we cannot thank God for "everything" including evil.
1 Thess 5:18 instructs us to thank God NOT FOR Everything - but IN ALL Circumstances.
These points can be made:
1. We are to give thanks IN ALL circumstances - not FOR all circumstances but IN all circumstances.
We don't give thanks to the Lord for evil circumstances because God does not rejoice in evil.
We don't just give thanks in some circumstances - like giving thanks only in positive circumstances and whining in adverse circumstances.
But we give thanks in ALL circumstances.
2. It is our attitude, character and trust in the Lord that we bring when we are IN any circumstance that is vital and is in focus here.
Whatever the circumstance, we are to bring in an Attitude of Gratitude and the trust in God in whatever circumstance.
3. This injunction is not easy. That is why 1 Thess 5:18 is preceded by:
1 Thess 5:17 Pray continually
Prayer helps us to stay connected to God in all our adverse circumstances.
If not, we will react in a very human way. Like complain, whine and take revenge.
Even in positive situations, we need prayer too because we can respond in a human way to success - like being proud. And with wealth, come all kinds of temptations.
Greed, Gold and Girls seems to come together often enough.
The attitude of the heart and the thanksgiving spirit is also supported by another preceding verse:
1 Thess 5:16 Be joyful always.
4. Furthermore the attitude of gratitude and the trust we bring into any circumstance and situation is based on the firm foundation of
Rom 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This is thanking God for being God and because he can turn evil to good purposes just as in the case of Joseph who said this to his brothers who had earlier sold him into slavery.
Gen 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Trust in God who is working all the time to redeem, restore and to accomplish His purposes.
5. But then Eph 5:20 says to give thanks to God FOR everything! What do we make of it???
Eph 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If we read the whole verse in its context, the words following the injunction qualifies the "giving thanks." We give thanks for everything that is consistent with God the Father and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Exhortation
Let us therefore thank God IN ALL Circumstances and thank God FOR EVERYTHING that is Aligned and Consistent with the Character of God.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
