Facebook PagePastor’s Newsletter Article
This is the latest of the articles Pastor Richert writes for the monthly church newsletter.
“Thank You” or Thankful
One of the polite manners parents teach their children is to say, “Thank you,” when someone gives them something. A child will receive a gift and a parent will ask, “What do you say?” The correct response from the child should be, “Thank you.” It’s embarrassing for the parent when the child responds, “I don’t want it,” or, “I don’t like it.” Even though the child is not at all thankful for the gift, the child should politely say, “Thank you.”
If we are honest, we all would have to admit that there are things we receive, but we are not thankful for. But to be polite, we say, “Thank you.” Our expression of thanks is not very sincere. There is a big difference in saying “Thank you” and being thankful. “Thank you” can just be words we speak. Being thankful is a sincere appreciation for something.
This is what Paul meant when he said, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). God wants us to see everything we receive in our lives—whether good or bad—as something that God is ultimately going to use for our good (Rom. 8:28). Even though we may not feel like saying, “Thank you,” we can still be thankful for the good that God is going to do for us.
