Grace, Gratitude and the Glory of God
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
2 Corinthians 4:14-15

In 1981 John Piper wrote a peace called Grace, Gratitude, and the Glory of God. It’s interesting that, like Scripture, old doesn’t necessarily mean bad. So, I want to give credit to John Piper noting that I have incorporated some of his research into this message.

Last week we spoke about the importance of Keeping our eyes on God through the storms in life. During last week’s message we skipped quickly over the subject of Thankfulness.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul writes:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Paul tells us in this morning’s passage that prayer is part of God’s will for our lives. Last week’s take home was to keep our eyes focused on God through the storm. One of the key practical ways of doing this was simply to find time with God in the middle of the good things or the scary things and pray.

But there are two more aspects to God’s will for our lives that Paul points out in this passage:
Joy and Thankfulness in all circumstances.

THE NATURE OF GRATITUDE

The Greek word translated in most of our bibles as ‘give thanks’ is:

eucharisteite εὐχαριστεῖτε.
This word can either be translated Thankful, or Grateful.
(Check out the Strongs definition here: http://biblehub.com/greek/2168.htm)

The root of this word is Charis (χαρισ), which means Grace.

A literal translation would be: “Grateful for God’s Grace.”

The only way to truly understand gratitude, is to understand its relationship to Grace.

Gratitude is more than just saying “Thankyou” when someone gives you something.
What turns the word “Thankyou” into true gratitude is the genuine feeling that comes along with it.

But gratitude is more than just a happy feeling in general…
Gratitude is a feeling of happiness - directed toward the person giving you something good.
It’s not just happiness that comes from the gift itself, but from the act of giving.

Elsewhere Paul paints the picture more clearly.
He writes in 2 Corinthians 4:

14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

The most obvious gift God has given us in Scripture is Everlasting Life through Jesus Christ.
He has promised to raise us with Jesus and be with us forever – this is clearly for our benefit.
And as His grace reaches more people the outworking of this will be – Gratefulness.

“Christian gratitude is grace reflected back to God in the happiness we feel toward Jesus.” – John Piper


FOR WHO’S SAKE?

In verse 15 Paul points out that all God’s work through Jesus and through the apostle Paul himself, is for our benefit as Christians.
But then at the end of verse 15 he suggests that it’s all so that God will receive more and more glory…

Why does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 suggest that it is the will of God for our lives to be joyful, prayerful and grateful?

Is it His will for His sake, or our sakes?
Who is getting the benefit from this?

Now.
Some people assume that God is like Santa Claus.
He gives good things so that we can be happy.
The purpose of the whole bible is our happiness.

Others assume that God is more like a shifty banker who only gives us good things because he’ll end up getting better in return.

Both of these assumptions miss the beauty and complexity of the gospel message.
But what is interesting to note is this:

When a person recognizes that Grace given to them.
And responds in Gratefulness to God.
The outworking of that transaction – is Joy.

“Without exception… all try their hardest to reach that same goal, that is, joy.” - Augustine

Everyone wants to know joy and happiness in their lives.
And God is well aware that the best way for a person to feel true JOY in their lives is once they realize and give thanks for all gifts of grace all around them.

It’s that simple.
Psychologists have latched onto this.
They suggest that one of the best methods for curing Anxiety and Depression is to teach people to start being thankful for what they have. For the little things.

Because once we start looking for things to be thankful for we begin to see just how many there really are.
Our focus is shifted from those things that concern us, to those things that give us JOY.

But as we read the bible it is clear that the end goal of the Gospel isn’t US.
Our Joy isn't the focus point.

The focus and end game of the gospel is that God will receive all the glory and honour and praise and thanks that He deserves for everything He has done…
That he would be worshiped, simply for the fact that He IS God and the creator of all things.

That’s the goal…
All creation recognizing that everything good things come from God and that He has provided everything we have by His Grace.

The beauty is…
That when we align ourselves to this purpose.
To giving our God the glory for everything we have and everything we are.
When we make HIS KINGDOM the focus of our attention.
Then the natural outcome is the very thing we think we might have to sacrifice in the effort.
Our JOY.

True JOY is the result of God getting our glory.

It’s hardly coincidental then that when we re-look at that Greek work for “Give Thanks”, eucharisteite εὐχαριστεῖτε, we don’t just find the word for “Grace,” Charis… but also Chara… “Joy”.

Our JOY is made complete when we align ourselves under the Lordship of Christ Jesus, giving Him the glory and thanks for everything we have.
This is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.