“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (II Corinthians 9:10-12 NIV)
When President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1863, the country was in the midst of civil war. Much sacrifice had already been made and much more was still to come; yet Lincoln found there was much for which to thank God.
What I find so encouraging is the leader of our nation in a time of war would humbly say, in spite of the circumstances, that he and his fellow countrymen had much for which to be thankful. The entire country was making huge sacrifices, but in the midst of the hardship came thanksgiving.
As I read Paul’s words here, it comes to mind that generosity is, in essence, sacrifice. When we give generously, we are sacrificing, and that generosity/sacrifice leads to thanksgiving. So, in the midst of war and much sacrifice, Lincoln could declare a “Day of Thanksgiving” and people embraced it.
In the midst of 1st Century hardship, the Corinthian Christians gave generously to help their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, and the result? Many expressions of thanks to God. And when God sacrificed His Son, that generosity has resulted in centuries of thanksgiving to Him.
As we approach our nation’s Day of Thanksgiving, let us remember that thanksgiving results from the sacrifices made on our behalf—those of parents, teachers, soldiers, fellow believers, and, most of all, God. Let us recognize those and let us give generously of ourselves for the sake of others in order to continue the expressions of thanks to God.
© Jim Musser 2012
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