Title Colossians 02:6-7 Benefits of Thanksgiving
Content: The benefits of thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7)
Everyone wants to be happy. So, in order to find happiness, we are doing everything we can to find happiness. But happiness is not far away, it is near. Also, happiness does not come only from having. Happiness is not something that others bring to you, and happiness does not come to you just because the environment is good. There is an element in my heart that can make me happy or unhappy, and that is gratitude. The unhappiness of modern people is, above all, in the loss of gratitude. Where there is gratitude, there is joy and happiness.
The Hebrew word for "thank you", "yada", has three meanings: ① publicly confess, ② give thanks, and ③ praise. If you look at the Old Testament, you can see that thanksgiving and praise are the same. Gratitude is a hymn. He also equated thanksgiving with worship. It means that those who give thanks to God deserve to worship God. They also equated the word thanks with sacrifice. (Psalm 54:6) "I give thanks to thy name, O LORD, for thy name is good." Here, giving thanks to thy name is the same as 'worshiping thy name'. As such, it is no exaggeration to say that the words of the Bible are filled with the words of thanksgiving.
1. Gratitude is the basis of human moral and ethical life.
Only humans have a moral and ethical life. Animals cannot find it. But the foundation of that moral and ethical life is gratitude. What is the difference between efficacious and infertile? The reason a filial son can be filial to his parents is because he can be thankful for the grace he has received from his parents. It is natural for children who do not appreciate the grace of their parents to become disobedient. When gratitude collapses, human morality and ethics also collapse. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that today's depravity of ethics and morals began with a loss of gratitude. Therefore, it can be said that the recovery of the broken ethical life begins with the recovery of the life of gratitude.
2. Gratitude is the foundation and principle of interpersonal relationships.
Gratitude not only restores ethics, it also makes others like you and gives you joy. A grateful person is always cheerful and bright, and a smile never leaves his face. So you will be on your way to success. A person with a grateful heart is loved, respected, and admired by others. A grateful person gives thanks to others and brings peace to their hearts.
3. Gratitude is the foundation of health.
As it has been said, "The joy of the heart is a good medicine", when you live with gratitude and joy, you can overcome any kind of disease. Even if you suffer from the same disease, those who have a grateful heart will recover easily from the disease. Psychologists say that being grateful brings health both mentally and physically.
4. Gratitude is the foundation of humility and is also the fruit of humility.
What makes a grateful person a humble person? Because humility motivates gratitude. Only a humble person can be grateful. The more proud you are, the less grateful you are. Gratitude and humility are inextricably linked. Where there is humility there is gratitude, and where there is gratitude there is humility.
5. Gratitude is the foundation of evangelism.
Our church holds a Neighbor Invitational Festival in which at least one family member and one neighbor are invited to celebrate Thanksgiving. We have a precious time to evangelize those who stop at our church services for various reasons, and those who do not yet believe in God in our homes or neighbors. If so, who can evangelize? A person with a grateful heart can evangelize. What do you need to be thankful for in order to evangelize? Those who are thankful for the love of Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to save us who are sinners who died of spirit, suffered a lot of suffering and gave up his life for us, can preach.
6. Gratitude is the source of all good deeds, services, sacrifices, and faith.
Gratitude is the key to success. The reason is that those with a grateful heart, whatever they are assigned to do, do it diligently and honestly. People with a grateful heart serve the church and society, but they do all the service well. It is the same in the church. People with a grateful heart visit well, do well in institutional service, and work hard in relief work.
7. Gratitude is the foundation of a life of devotion.
Those who have a grateful heart give their offerings to God with all sincerity. Maria from the village of Bethany is a woman from a poor and needy family. However, I had prepared nad oil in the alabaster box to pay for it after one year of work, and I poured it on my feet and washed them in the week that Jesus was about to be crucified. Even the disciples of Jesus, who had followed Jesus for three years, poured out a large amount of perfumed oil on him at once to raise objections. What made the woman do this great thing? It is because of the moved heart for the grace of the Lord.
Now we close the word. When we give thanks to God, God not only rejoices, but He also saves us from tribulation. God loves those who are grateful. (Psalm 50:14-15) “Sacrifice to God with thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; call on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.” Also, God gives more conditions for thanksgiving to those who know how to be thankful and gives them great blessings of grace. I pray in the name of the Lord that we all become people of thanksgiving and enjoy the blessing of thanksgiving as we dedicate our offerings ahead of Thanksgiving Day.