Thankful Reguardless

What if it is hard to be thankful on Thanksgiving?

Philippians 4:10–12 (ESV), ¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

• He is extending grace so he will not fall into a place of resentment. Isn’t that one of the hardest things to do? Don’t we tend to assume the worst?
• People don’t typically plan to disappoint you so, when they do, give them the benefit of the doubt because something likely got in the way of them pleasing you.
• Paul models a Christ-like attitude in this situation. He has made a mental choice to not make assumptions that will lead him to get resentful and sacrifice his contentment.
• He is saying that he is making a conscious choice not to focus on his situation, that may be the definition of need.

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (ESV), ²⁴ “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”

• Contentment is the state of being happy and satisfied. On Thanksgiving when you think about all you are grateful for, hopefully you feel a sense of contentment. If not, have another piece of pie and then you’ll feel contentment. Contentment isn’t an excited kind of happy, it’s more like a peaceful ease of mind.

What does it mean to be content?

Philippians 4:12 (ESV), I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

• The secret formula is a very recognizable verse.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV), I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

• God will do what he feels is the right thing, not what we want him to do.
• Paul is saying that he is confident that he will be divinely strengthened to do anything and everything that GOD CALLS HIM TO DO.
• He is also saying that Christian contentment remains a mystery to those on the outside and can only be learned from the inside by those who are in Christ.
• The key to applying this formula is NOT to apply it selectively. It is to apply it in ALL We must seek God’s guidance and his strength in our everyday life.
• Maybe your world has become so small that you have lost an appreciation for how God is strengthening you in your everyday life.
• Is selfishness getting in the way of your contentment, joy, peace, thankfulness?