For What Did the Apostle Paul Give Thanks?
November 28, 2024 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Imitation of someone we admire is an effective way to learn. Children learn much by imitation of their parents. Athletes learn their sport by imitating all-star athletes or coaches. YouTube how-to videos have abounded on the principle that people learn best by imitating someone else.
This applies to our spiritual growth as followers of Christ. First and foremost, we ought to imitate Christ, especially in suffering (1 Pet. 2:21). Even though humans, other than Christ, are fallible, we can learn by imitating those who are faithfully following Christ. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
So, let’s learn to give thanks by imitating Paul’s example in his letters. For what does Paul give thanks? As we consider Paul’s habits of giving thanks, we can be inspired in thankfulness.
- Paul Gives Thanks for People. In nearly every one of his letters, Paul opens by giving thanks for the recipient. For example, in Romans 1:8 he writes, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you” (compare with 1 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3; Col. 1:3; 1 Thes. 1:2; 2 Thes. 1:3; Philemon 4). This habit of giving thanks for people reveals Paul’s love for and value of people. If you do not love or value people, you will not be thankful for them. In an age of consumerism, we tend to value people based upon what we can gain from them. We consume relationships. True love values people without expecting anything in return. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, helping us kill selfishness and grow in love for others. Push yourself to give thanks for the people in your life (in writing or verbally) and you will find you have far to grow in this area.
- Paul Gives Thanks for Faith and Love. When Paul gives thanks for people, he often gives grounds for his thanksgiving. In six of his letters, it is related to the faith and love of the recipients (Rom. 1:8; Eph. 1:15-16; Col. 1:3-4; 1 Thes. 1:2-3; 2 Thes. 1:3; Philemon 4). Take as an example Colossians 1:3-4, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.” What Paul is truly thankful for is the spiritual well-being of people. Faith unites us to Christ and all the blessings of salvation. Love for others is evidence of genuine faith growing in one’s heart. Growing in faith and love are marks of a healthy Christian. Far more important than physical health and comfort or financial stability and prosperity is one’s spiritual health. Paul has God-honoring priorities when he focuses his thanksgiving on spiritual well-being. We should too.
- Paul Gives Thanks for Salvation. Several times in the middle of his letters, which often are dense with rich theology, Paul breaks out into thanksgiving. These thanksgivings focus on the benefits of salvation secured by Christ. In Romans 6:17 he writes, “Thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.” In Romans 7:25, responding to the reality of indwelling sin, asking who can rescue him, Paul answers with thanksgiving, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” And in 1 Corinthians 15:57, reacting to the sting of death and power of sin, Paul writes, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul came back again and again to all that Christ had accomplished as the source of all blessing.
- Paul Gives Thanks for Fruitful Ministry. Paul says, “To live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21), meaning that ministry for Christ was his chief aim in life. So, it is natural to find in his letters thanksgiving for fruitful ministry. These thanksgivings typically focus on others participating in ministry. In Philippians 1:4, he gives thanks for the church’s “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” In 2 Corinthians 8:16, Paul is thankful that God “put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.” And with the Thessalonians, Paul is thankful that “when you received the word of God, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God.” Each of these examples reflect a thankfulness for the work of God’s grace in the lives of others. By God’s grace we are partners for the gospel, have earnest care for others, and receive the word of God as it really is.
For what are you thankful this year? Often we focus on earthly elements and physical circumstances. Paul sets an example of turning our attention to the work of God in our lives and in the lives of others. Let’s be thankful for the work of God’s grace.
Happy Thanksgiving!
