Pastor's Corner: The cost of Thanksgiving

The price we pay to be thankful is a costly one. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, we know that thankfulness is a concept not fully mastered.

Our culture communicates with a narcissistic mindset in all things, placing themselves at the forefront of every conversation and every decision.

Rejoicing in what benefits themselves, they find discontentment and unfulfillment as the chauffeurs of the soul taking them to places that bring no eternal return. For instance, when they do not receive what they desire they find themselves frustrated by those who failed to meet their expectations.

What causes them to respond that way? When the grizzly bear of the soul known as self is left unfed, the result is a selfish person bent on living primarily for themselves without care for those around them. Those who live for themselves will find themselves on the opposing side of thankfulness; therefore, a selfish person cannot be a thankful person because a grateful person honors others above themselves.

The thankful are those who have died to self. In Colossians 3:15 the Apostle Paul states, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Paul commands the people of Colossae to “be thankful” having a thankfulness that flows from the heart. He reminded the church at Colossae a few verses before that they had died a spiritual death, and their “life is now hidden with Christ in God” (3:3).

Paul was speaking of their decision to follow Jesus, and that meant that they no longer belonged to themselves but God; therefore, he also encouraged them to clothe themselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (3:12) in light of what Jesus had done for them.

Paul is making a case for the cost of thanksgiving, drawing attention to the fact that they cannot give thanks while focused on themselves. Thanksgiving is diluted and insincere when at the center they proudly stand. Removing themselves from the equation provides an opportunity for thankfulness to grow and develop within their hearts.

Paul said, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Rom. 12:10) only after taking on this mindset do they learn to live a thankful life. They cannot succeed in being thankful apart from denial of themselves; after all, the cost of thanksgiving is that we do not live selfishly towards others but gratefully.

The Rev. Joshua W. Seymour

Havre Assembly of God associate pastor