November 2009

“Let Your THANKS Be Shown In GIVING”

Thanksgiving is a beautiful reminder of how we truly can give thanks to our God.  For our THANKS is ultimately shown in our GIVING.  The Psalmist speaks of showing our thanks in the giving of our songs and praise (Ps. 28:7; 100:4).  That kind of giving is what we typically associate with thanking God for our salvation and His enduring love in Christ.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that our thanks to God is shown in other kinds of giving.  “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that YOUR GIVING MAY BE IN SECRET.  Then your Father, who sees what is done IN SECRET, will reward you” (Mt. 6:1-4). 

Let your THANKS be shown in your GIVING in secret.  We know what God has already done for us in Christ for our eternal life.  We know in what ways He has blessed us with all of the things we have to support our body and life.  Jesus reminds us that our thanks to God is shown in our giving IN SECRET to others who are in need.  But even more, that our thanks to God is shown in our giving IN SECRET all our “acts of righteousness.”  After all, isn’t what we do, what we give of our time, our talents, our treasures, really an expression of thanksgiving to God alone for the blessings He has given us?

Let your THANKS also be shown in your GIVING in public.  Jesus also said in His Sermon on the Mount, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  It seems that our thanks shown in our giving in secret has a way of becoming public - and God is praised, thanked, when others see it. 

All we can give is what the Lord has already given.  And our giving is simply an expression of our thanks to God for the life He has given us in Christ, for the new creations we are by His Spirit, for the all the things we have received in life from His Fatherly hand. 

Let your THANKS be shown in your GIVING because of what God has given to you and especially for you in Jesus.  Let your THANKS be shown in your GIVING for God’s eyes only, knowing that such giving is in fact seen by others whose response is to thank your Father in heaven in the giving of praise to Him.  

A blessed thanksgiving to all!

Pastor John

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