Thanksgiving…For the Wrong Reasons

It is not an original idea to suggest that thanksgiving should be much more than a holiday. All people would be much better off and the world would be a much better place if an “attitude of gratitude” would be the norm. This should especially be true of a person who wears the name of Christ and is truly trying to follow Him. 

As I was thinking about the upcoming holiday and, more importantly, about the mindset that should be ours, my mind went to a passage where gratitude was expressed. It was even expressed to God. Sadly, however, it was expressed for all of the wrong reasons.

The passage that came to mind is Luke 18:9-14. No doubt you are familiar with this account that begins this way: “Two men went up to the temple to pray…” (v. 10).

As you recall, the Pharisee began his prayer with these words: “…God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector” (v. 11). At this point in his prayer, he began telling God about some of his good qualities. 

I’m wondering how many of us have expressed gratitude for similar things. Our gratitude may focus on what we have accomplished, how we are thought of, and so on. 

This “misfocused gratitude” may be a problem for an individual, a family, a nation, or even a congregation of people who claim to be loyal to and follow the Savior. Our focus cannot be on us (either individually or collectively). Our focus must be on our Lord and the wonderful salvation that is available in Him.

If we ever fall into the trap of thinking that we can be good enough, moral enough, or productive enough to “earn” our salvation and spend eternity with Jesus, we might want to consider the following passage (and many others like it):

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7, ESV).

Then, we have thanksgiving, for the right reason.

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