Being Careful how We say Thanks!
You wouldn't have thought that saying thank you could be complicated, would you? But it can be. Suppose a missionary writes home:
"Many many thanks for your very generous gift. It came just at a time of great need and the Lord used you to meet that deep need. Thank you!"
On the one hand it could be read as grateful, on the other hand, is she hinting by going so Over The Top?!
It's not easy to say thanks wisely!
Paul had planted the church at Philippi and in gratitude for all of his spiritual input into their lives they wanted to bless him financially - that is how it should be, by the way.
But look how Paul says thanks.....
Diplomacy at its greatest!
First he tells them that he rejoices in the Lord (not them) for their gifts:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed you have been concerned but you had no opportunity to show it.." (Philippians 4:10)
But then he pulls back a little, fearful that it may seem to be hinting for more:
"I am not saying this because I am in need...." (verse 11)
And then he is concerned that this itself might seem ungrateful, so he engages in a second round of diplomacy:
"Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles..." (verse 14)
And Paul even praises them for being the only Macedonian church to have blessed him financially (shame on the others!)
But Paul worries that this lovely encouragement might itself be seen as a hint, so he pulls back again:
"Not that I am looking for a gift...." (verse 17)
The wisdom lesson we learn from Paul is to be very careful how we say thanks, lest our thanks be read as hints!
The Secret of a Contented Life
The spiritual lesson, however, is different. Tucked away in this passage of Scripture is the universal secret of contentment.
Paul reveals the fact that in his life he has had seasons of plenty and seasons of need. Famine and Feast. These were both sent to teach him a most important lesson: how to be content all the time.
We might think "why do you need that lesson in seasons of plenty?" And the reason is that it is just as easy to want more when you're rich as to want more when you are poor. I have never found contentment in rich people more than the poor. Indeed the poor are often far more content than the rich!
Rich people need to learn contentment as much as the poor. There's always the next million, and always the guy up the road who has "more" of something, or that something else you just MUST have / buy / experience.
So what was Paul's secret of contentment? This is our memory verse today:
"I can do all things through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13)
By the power of the Spirit of Christ who lived within Paul, he discovered the ability to be content no matter what. Rich or poor, in plenty or needy, well fed or hungry.
Summing it all Up
What a wonderful verse to meditate on! When we have a lot but still find our greedy coveteous hearts restless. When we have nothing and are in need. Paul had learned the secret in each and every situation: he could make it through them all with the power and grace given to him by the Lord.
"I can do all things through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13)
And so to us.
We too must learn to have happy and contented hearts in every situation that comes our way. When we know the way ahead and when we don't. When we are weary and when we are filled with boundless energy. When we are rich and when we are poor. When we are in good health and when our health fails us.
In all circumstances, let us rely on the power of the Lord to bring about deep contentment in our Oh So Fickle hearts.
A SONG FOR THE DAY
Whatever our circumstances there is always at least One Reason to give thanks, and our song for the day enables us to express that reason.
Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart
Give Thanks To The Holy One
Give Thanks Because He Has Given
Jesus Christ His Son
And Now Let The Weak Say I Am Strong
Let The Poor Say I Am Rich
Because Of What The Lord
Has Done For Us.
Give Thanks.
Henry Smith
You can sing along
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our loving Father in heaven,
Teach us to be thankful people! Thankful in our homes, thankful in our marriages, thankful in our churches and thankful in our prayerlife. We remember how our Lord gave thanks to his Father before he ate and drank.
And as we count our blessings and thank you for them, teach us to be content in the power that you supply.
Remind us when we say "we can't make it through this," that we can do all things through Christ who gives us his divine power.
We ask these things in Jesus' Name,
Amen
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