ThanksGiving |
Dec 7, 2010 |
Only 18 days ‘til Christmas. Thanksgiving, the little brother of the holiday season, is a distant memory. But I’m still pondering the strong connection between Transformational Giving and ThanksGiving. At Mission Increase Foundation we say that Transformational Giving is giving that transforms both the giver and receiver. Could it be that ThanksGiving is one key to Transformational Giving? Could it be that any giving that transforms begins with giving thanks to the giver of all good things?
I know I run the risk of sounding like I’m suggesting giving is somehow predicated on a feeling of thankfulness-that we're somehow excused from giving if we don't feel thankful-so let me be clear. According to the Scriptures, we are commanded to give and commandments are obeyed through faith which itself is the gift of God.
Still, I am seeing a rich connection between giving thanks and financial giving. I would suggest when our minds and souls are rightly focused on the great mercy and goodness God has graciously extended to us as His children, our only right response can be to “lift up the cup of salvation and sacrifice a thank offering.” And if we are regularly doing that, I believe it will lead to greater financial giving that comes from willing hearts. Some today suggest we should be generous because God has blessed us financially and materially-that we should give because we have more than someone else. But giving because we are grateful for abundance isn’t what I see in Psalm 116 where the focus is on thanks for mercy and salvation.
Look specifically at Psalm 116:12-19:
What shall I return to the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, LORD;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.
In this Psalm I see a call to give thanks to our God and I think doing that will lead to an increased desire to give in other ways too. Too bad Thanksgiving moves so quickly to Black Friday. We could all benefit from dwelling a bit longer on giving thanks.
