“What does Thanksgiving Mean to You?”

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

You ask any number of people what Thanksgiving means, and you will probably get that many different answers. For example, if you could have asked the first pilgrims who came to this country what thanksgiving meant to them, they might have said things like religious freedom, safety from the long journey across the sea, or expressed thankfulness that the Wampanoag Indians took pity on them and helped them plant corn, build shelter, and taught them how to survive in the new world.

Fast forward to 1789 and ask George Washington what thankfulness meant to him you get these words such as, “By the President of the United States of America. A proclamation: Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor… 

“Whereas, Both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me `to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God. . .’

“Now, Therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of Novembernext, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. . .” So read the very first Thanksgiving Proclamation. (Edited for space).

                   Fast forward to our day and time and ask people what thanksgiving means to them, and one might get answers such as, spending time with their friends and family, eating a large meal, or a day where one could watch football all day uninterrupted. 

Now let’s go to the Bible and see what it means when it teaches about “thanksgiving”:

·         1 Thess. 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

·         Eph. 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” 

·         Php. 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 

·         Col. 2:7, “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” 

·         Col. 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” 

·         1Tim. 4:4, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,”

The Bible teaches that thanksgiving is one of the many attributes that each Christian should have in all circumstances.  Although what we in America celebrate as a day of thanksgiving is a wonderful idea and a great reminder to be thankful, the Bible teaches us that thanksgiving is not seasonal but a way of life for the Christian.    

So, what does thanksgiving mean to you?

By Mark T. Tonkery

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