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I was astounded a week or two ago when I was in a public store and
heard non-stop Christmas music being piped in through the PA system. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, since media
and marketing strategists have always felt the need to bring Christmas forward
as early as is possibly bearable. But nevertheless
it struck me as way too early for Christmas music. It was still several weeks before
Thanksgiving, and the atmosphere in the store felt like we were completely
skipping Thanksgiving and moving right into Christmas.
But isn’t that human nature - to skip giving and go right to the
getting. Giving thanks won’t sell, but
getting gifts certainly will. Now it is
not my intention to downplay Christmas.
I love the Advent and Christmas season.
It is one of my favorite times of the year. I’m simply suggesting that in order truly to
appreciate Christmas, we must first cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
The giving of thanks is not a default human response - it must be
learned, nurtured and promoted. How many
times, upon giving something to our children, must we repeat the phrase “What
do you say. . .?” The number is probably
somewhere between infinity and eternity.
And this clearly carries over into our relationship with God. We are so quick to ask: “Abba, Father, can I.
. .” “Abba, may I. . .” “Abba, will you. . .” “Abba, pleeeeease. . .?” And how many times must we, as adults, be
reminded to say “Thank you” in the same moment?
I believe that Thanksgiving richly prepares us for Christmas. We cannot appreciate fully the profound
significance and depth of meaning in the story of Christmas when our hearts are
not filled with gratitude to God. The
story really comes alive only for those who truly are appreciative of God’s
goodness and grace in their lives.
Attitudes of privilege, greed, entitlements, rights and
self-sufficiency actually blind us to the true glory of the greatest Gift ever
given. They become gigantic obstacles to
grasping the grace of Christmas. In
fact, you cannot receive the Gift of God apart from giving thanks. The Gift cannot be earned, merited, deserved,
procured or acquired. It is given in
such a way that “no one may boast.” Without genuine gratitude, the Gift is
perceived merely as “getting my due.”
And with that attitude, the Gift truly never is received. As Jesus said, “he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
But the risk of skipping Thanksgiving involves more than just missing
out on the message of Christmas.
Ungratefulness is actually a major misstep in the dangerous, downward
spiral away from the glory of God. When
we refuse to “acknowledge God in all our ways” we are rushing headlong down the
slippery slope of self-delusion, and begin the painful process of losing touch
with reality.
“For
although they knew God, they neither
glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became
futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became
fools
. . . They
exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things
rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans
1:21-22,25)
Thanklessness leads to illusion, delusion, confusion and eventually
exclusion from reality. Is it any wonder
at this time of year that so many people seem to be losing touch with the
truth? It all begins with a fundamental
failure to bless Him who is blessed forever - to give God the honor due Him and
give thanks to Him.
In Jesus our King,
Pastor Scott
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