A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

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A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

by Dr. Alan Hix

With the coming of November, when we are not stressing over what to do for Christmas, we remember that somewhere in all this holiday planning is Thanksgiving. When we pause and consider what we are thankful for, we often focus on things like family, friends, home, and more than enough to eat. The opening lines of Laura Story’s song “Blessings” reflect this longing: “We pray for blessings; we pray for peace—comfort for family, protection while we sleep. We pray for healing, for prosperity. We pray for your mighty hand to ease our suffering.” As Christians, we usually focus on all the things God has done for us or given us. In other words, we tend to be thankful for those things outside of ourselves. C.S. Lewis, in his book The Weight of Glory, offers believers an important reminder: “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.”

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul compares our physical existence to being like “jars of clay” that are fragile and easily broken. The true treasure that we have is not all the things we hold on to so tightly. The true treasure we have is the presence of God’s Spirit within us. Our fragileness allows His glory to shine through. Later in that chapter, he will declare that “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV).

Paul is able to express a certain hope for eternity because of the presence of Christ within him. Writing from prison toward the end of his life, Paul expresses a sense of contentment that goes beyond any physical circumstance. In Philippians 4:11, Paul declares, “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Instead of pining over how his circumstances could be different, Paul rejoiced that the indwelling presence of Christ caused all other things to pale in comparison. He understood, as did C.S. Lewis, that Christ in us is all we need.

I have had the privilege of worshipping with believers in many other countries. In one particular village, the people lived in mud huts and had to walk a day just to collect water. By Western standards, they would be considered among the poorest of people. What struck me as I spent

time with them was that they carried a joyous attitude about them. The source of their joy was their salvation in Christ. These people who had little by our standards had everything they needed by theirs—for they had Jesus.

This Thanksgiving, as we gather together around our tables set with enough food to feed our entire block, let us first thank God for the only thing that really matters. In Colossians 1:27, Paul expresses it this way: “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

About The Author Dr. Alan Hix is an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.

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