Beyond the Giving of Thanks

While preparing for a post-Thanksgiving talk, I noticed that Jesus’ instruction on “how you should pray” does not include any giving of thanks.

Thanksgiving is, of course, necessary. 

Jesus (speaking through the Spirit in Paul) says “For although they knew God, they neither glorified (honored) him as God nor gave thanks to him” (Rom 1:21).  Everyone clearly sees God through his invisible qualities of eternal power and divine nature (Rom 1:20) and knows that God deserves thanks AND glory/honor.

Thanksgiving alone is not sufficient.

In Luke 18, the Pharisee is thankful (that he is not a robber, adulterer, etc), but people do not see his good deeds and glorify God.  Rather, he expects the honor to be given to him, not to God.

It appears that two responses are basic to our existence: giving thanks to God, and honoring/glorifying Him.

These thoughts flowed from an examination of Elijah’s encounter with the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17).  Elijah is sent by God to a coastal town in a foreign land (Sidon) and told to ask a destitute widow for food.  Unknown to Elijah, the widow is gathering sticks for a final meal so she and her son can eat it, then die.

Elijah assures her that she will be provided for until the famine breaks.

I’m struck by how Elijah is given bread by a raven day-by-day prior to this, and then he, the widow, and her son are given bread day-by-day until the famine breaks … how they continually live one day away from starvation.

We rightfully (I think) see destitution as in conflict with God’s created order … but in a fallen world, we probably don’t fully appreciate that God’s glory is most clearly shown and seen where we are most destitute.

Although there’s no giving of thanks in the Lord’s Prayer, there is “give us this DAY our DAILY bread” (emphasis added).  It is in humility we recognize that all we need or deserve is day-to-day care … and it is for God’s glory that He provides just enough and no more.

Did God Actually Say ... ?

Seems like every week some new study is hyped in the press regarding the unreliability of our senses and our inability to think clearly. 

Even the Wikipedia article on the topic leans this way in the wording of its title ... "List of biases in judgment and decision making" ... interesting how there's little discussion of how/when these biases are beneficial.

Although we live in a time of skepticism (especially with regard to our ability to know objectively and universally), the overwhelming message of scripture is that God speaks clearly ... the problem is we don't want to hear.

Here are three Biblical incidents I'm reminded of when this topic arises:

• Genesis 3:1 - when Satan comes to tempt Eve, the field is wide open ... he can take any approach imaginable; say or do anything.  His (a) use of a question, and (b) focus on God's Word seem significant. If Satan can get us to question God's clear intent, the battle is largely over.
• Numbers 22 - Balaam is repeatedly warned about becoming involved with Balak. Yet he persists in asking God if it's ok.  It's frightening to realize that God will give us the answer we want if we refuse to listen to him.  Bret Carter had a nice editorial ("The Madness of the Prophet") on this passage a few months back.
• 1 Kings 18-19 - Elijah sees God act powerfully on Mt. Carmel and seems to think that God is about to "turn [Israel's] hearts back" to him (18:37)).  The prophets of Baal are killed and the drought breaks.  But revival does not break out.  Jezebel threatens Elijah and he flees, eventually hiding in a cave about 200 miles away.  God then "passes by", not in a powerful wind, nor in an earthquake, nor in a fire, but in ... a "low whisper" (ESV).  Although there's no explicit explanation given, the contrast with Mt. Carmel could not be greater.  God seems to be saying to Elijah that he will not overpower the listener.

Bottom line: next to "who is God?", the most important question may be "did God actually say?".