Be thankful for what God gives you

By Scott Higgins

The Times, Nov 15, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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(Scott Higgins is the evangelist with the Tualatin Valley Church. Currently the church is meeting in the Tualatin Valley Heritage Center located at 8700 S.W. Sweek Drive. Service is Sundays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, please call 503-536-5807 or visit www.tualatinvalleychurch.com.)

Often holidays change over time. They are intended for one thing and morph into something else. You see it with almost every holiday. Some holidays, Veterans Day for instance, are intended to honor soldiers and instead is a day off of school or work for some, and a chance to find a great deal at the mall.

This phenomenon is also true of Thanksgiving. Some people now even skip right over Thanksgiving and go straight on to Christmas preparation. In many homes, Thanksgiving is a chance for a big meal, lots of alcohol and some football. It was intended to be much more.

Originally it was designed to remind the people where their blessings come from. The early pilgrims firmly believed that everything came from God. They gave all the success of their voyage to America to God. They gave credit to God when the crops turned out. They gave credit to God for bringing certain Indians into their lives to help them in settling this land. Since everything came from God, and fall brought an abundant harvest, they wanted to be thankful to their provider. So was born an American holiday of Thanksgiving.

Yet something has changed. The issue is self-reliance. I believe that many people today have lost that understanding that God provides, and now worship at the altar of self. Now, I EARNED what I get. Now culture says that it is because of the hard work that I have done that I live in such a blessed society. I truly believe that we must repent of this attitude and come back to a thankful spirit!

James 1:17 teaches us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” The book Paul wrote to the Colossians reminds the people to be thankful at least six times.

One of those times is in the third chapter in verse 15. It reads, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

This year for Thanksgiving, I truly hope you enjoy family. I hope you enjoy food. I hope you enjoy football. Most of all, I pray you take time to be thankful.

Stop and count your blessings. Acknowledge the fact that you live in one of the most prosperous times in history and in one of the most prosperous nations in all history.

You may think you did something to deserve this. I choose to see it as blessings from God and I will live my life in thankfulness to Him! Happy Thanksgiving.