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Giving thanks and glory to Him
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“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee”
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“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
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On the fourth Thursday of November, most American families gather to feast on a smorgasbord of food, watch football on the television, and reminisce on the past. Somewhere along the journey from the pilgrims to present day, the meaning of giving thanks has been blurred.
Thomas Jefferson refused to issue a proclamation believing it violated the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. His predecessors Washington and Adams had each declared national days of public worship and thanksgiving.
Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of celebrating on the last Thursday of November in 1863, in the hopes of fostering unity. In 1941, Congress passed a resolution establishing the date now used.
The “I Hate Thanksgiving” Crowd
Today, many people feel an immense amount of stress around Thanksgiving. There is the preparation of the “feast,” the travel required to bring the family unit under one roof, and the fear of interrogation for past actions or future plans.
In many cases, the commercialization of the holiday has usurped the fact we are supposed to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the blessings bestowed upon us. America has become a spoiled and pampered society, glutenous on riches and material possessions.
Echoing the sentiments of loony leftists, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong’s 2020 post on social media recently resurfaced in which she wrote, “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621.” Ms. Hong was expressing the progressive socialists belief that this holiday celebrated colonialism and blamed disease transmission which was inflicted upon the indigenous people.
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As reported by the Heartland Post, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, doubled down on her declaration to cancel Thanksgiving.
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This is the same crowd who demanded Christopher Columbus statues around the nation be destroyed, and the holiday be renamed Indigenous People’s Day. Likewise, this crowd will claim our nation was founded on stolen land. They steadfastly refuse to admit that all inhabited land has a history of conquest, violence, and migration.
Be Thankful For Everything
What has been lost on the masses is the fact we should not set aside one day out of three hundred sixty five to give thanks. In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
The apathy of Americans towards all that we have been blessed with is astounding. In the chase for the almighty dollar, many have lost sight of spiritual riches. 1 Timothy 6:10 is wisdom that has long been forgotten.
America is known as the land of opportunity. If a person has a work ethic and a drive to succeed, anything is possible. Dr. Ben Carson, a renowned neurosurgeon, rose from the depths of poverty and a broken home to become the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery in the United States in 1984.
To Whom Much Is Given
What escapes many is the fact that our nation, with its abundance of natural resources, still refuses to acknowledge the fact we have a responsibility that is required for these gifts. We have become the unfaithful servant Jesus spoke of in Luke 12:48: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
In the race to obtain more material things—the “Keeping Up With the Jones’” mentality—we dismiss recognizing the gifts we have received. Once we recognize this afront to living a biblical life, steps to reorder priorities should be taken. We should be thankful for all that we receive, and accept the responsibility of doing what He asks of us. This is surely a blessing, and not a burden.
In Matthew 6:25-26, Jesus explains that we do not need to suffer anxiety over material needs so much that we are distracted from faithfully doing His will. Even those who are poor are not to worry about what to wear, eat, or drink.
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“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
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Use Your Talents
We are all blessed with certain talents which God has given us. It is our responsibility to utilize these talents to glorify Him, while benefiting others. It is easy to ascribe to the belief that only wealthy people have been given much.
In truth, we have all been given much—we who have been born again have been granted the grace of God, the Word of God, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3-10:
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”
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Likewise, the Apostle Peter spoke of the gifts we have been given in 1 Peter 4:8-10:
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“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
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As Christians, we have been blessed beyond measure. Our blessings have been bountiful, as God desires that we use our gifts to further His Kingdom and proclaim His glory.
The instructions Jesus gave His twelve disciples applies to us as Christians. In Matthew 10:7-8, He said: “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand... freely ye have received, freely give.”
Recognize where our gifts come from and share this knowledge with many. In James 1:17 we read: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.” Power of Prophecy desires to wish you and yours a bountiful harvest and a joyous Thanksgiving. 
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