Thanksgiving sale! Almost every advertisement over the past week or so was all about special opportunities to purchase desired merchandise at an exceedingly reduced price. And people line up the stores even weeks before the special sale begins. The whole focus is the consumer mindset.
The phrase “Thanksgiving sale” is something like an oxymoron, two contradictory words put together. Because a “sale” is all about the opportunity of getting things, while the holiday is about the occasion of giving thanks. And if we are not careful, we get so caught up in the consumer mindset of getting things such that we never really get around to giving thanks.
In the English Standard Version of the Bible, the phrase “give thanks” occurs 64 times, the word “thank” 28 times, “thankful/thankfulness” three times, “thanksgiving” 38 times, “grateful” and “gratitude” occurs once each. There are about one or two instances where the act of giving thanks has a distorted perspective, such as the Pharisee who is thankful that he is not like the sinful tax collector (Luke 18.11). Then there are some instances where the object of gratitude is some other person. But for the most part, the giving of thanks is directed toward God in acknowledgement of his graciousness toward undeserving recipients:
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16.34 ESV)
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” (Psalms 30.11–12 ESV)
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15.57 ESV).
“Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12.28 ESV).
A heart of gratitude is pleasing to the Lord. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5.18 ESV). Take the time to “count your blessings” and actually “name them one by one.” Indeed, “it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Let the giving of thanks be an integral part of our lives—through our lips and our behavior, giving honor to the One who deserves all our gratitude.
–Keith Y. Jainga