WHAT THANKSGIVING HELPS US SEE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   It is possible to have the physical ability to see, yet still be blind to various things in our life.  (Ex., the church in Laodicea, Rev. 3:17).

 

…and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

 

B.   In order to see, we often need spiritual medication applied to our mind’s eyes (Rev. 3:18)

 

I counsel thee…and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

C.   One of the ointments we can use to improve our spiritual sight is thanksgiving.

1.    Psalm 100:4

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:  be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 

2.    1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

D.   Let’s look at the benefits of thanksgiving to our spiritual eyesight.  The title of our lesson is:  “What Thanksgiving Helps Us See.”

 

I.             GOD’S BOUNTY

 

A.   Isn’t it interesting that we can look upon all of the things we possess and still believe we have so little?

 

B.   Thanksgiving forces us to look upon all of the things that God has provided for us in our lives.

1.    Our homes:  roofs that do not leak, insulation in the walls,  central heat & air, indoor plumbing, water heaters, electricity, floor coverings, window dressings, appliances, furniture, pictures, decorations, clothes, food, holiday decorations, cleaning supplies, repair kits, medications, technology, valuables

2.    This does not include:  the garage, the storage shed, the storage unit, our vehicles, our play things, our collections, jobs, medical benefits, bank accounts, investments, our health, family, friends, the USA, our church family, and all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ

 

C.   We begin to see the truth found in many verses of the Bible.

1.    Psalm 23:1-3

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul:  he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

2.    Psalm 37:25-26

 

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

 

3.    James 1:17

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

II.           WE ARE BLESSED

 

A.   When the gifts of God are piled all around us, and we are forced to see all of the things He has provided, then we see that we are truly blessed.

1.    I am not a pauper.

2.    I am not a victim.

3.    I am not a prisoner.

4.    I am not the afflicted.

5.    I am not the underprivileged.

 

B.   Again, we learn the teachings of several Bible passages.

1.    Psalm 115:15

 

Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

 

2.    Ephesians 1:3

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

 

III.         THE LESS FORTUNATE

 

A.   Once our eyes are open to our abundance, we might then be able to see the poverty and affliction of others.

 

B.   There are millions in the world who have so much less than we do.

1.    Average yearly income per worker:

a.    USA                                $80,300

b.    Afghanistan                            360

c.    Haiti                                    1,740

d.    Philippines                           4.230

e.    United Kingdom                  47,800

2.    We are 7^th on the list of highest incomes.

 

C.   Remember the poor (Gal. 2:10a)

 

Only they would that we should remember the poor…

 

D.   The rich man and Lazarus

1.    Lazarus was a poor man and upon his death he entered into Abraham’s bosom, a place of comfort in the hadean realm.

2.    The rich man died and awoke in torments.

3.    Luke 16:19-21

 

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table:  moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

 

4.    The rich man was not physically blind.

He could see the poor man that sat at his gate every day.

However, he was blind to his blessing.

This blindness did not allow him to see the plight of Lazarus.

This man needed the ointment of thanksgiving applied to his spiritual eyes.

 

IV.         THE GRACE OF GIVING

 

A.   Why do you work? 

1.    To provide for my family?

2.    To save for a rainy day?

3.    To enjoy the fine things and fun things of life?

4.    To accumulate so I can retire?

5.    The answer provided in Ephesians 4:28 has always caused me to marvel.

 

Let him that stole steal no more:  but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

 

B.   Thanksgiving opens our minds to how much we have and to how little others possess.

 

C.   If we are compassionate people, what we have can be given to those who need.

If we are a caring people, what we have can be given to those who need.

If we are a loving people, what we have can be given to those who need.

If we are a people who possess the heart of Christ, what we have can be given to those who need.

 

D.   Two verses:

1.    Psalm 41:1

 

Blessed is he that considereth the poor…

 

2.    1 Timothy 6:17-18

 

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

 

V.           TO CONTENTMENT

 

A.   One has said:  “Thanksgiving allows me to see that what I have is enough.”

 

B.   We possess things that we do not ever use.

1.    Clothes we do not wear.

2.    Toys that are not played with.

3.    Furniture that is never sat in.

4.    Dishes that are never used.

5.    Things in closets we forgot we put there.

 

C.   If I have more than I can really use, why do I need more? 

1.    Contentment says:  “I have enough.”

2.    Contentment says:  “What I have is sufficient.”

3.    Contentment says:  “I do not need one thing more.”

 

D.   “Let your conversation be without covetousness,” that is, no more longing and desiring for things, “and be content with such things as ye have…” (Heb. 13:5).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Thanksgiving is more than a day of celebration.

Thanksgiving is more than a command to be obeyed.

Thanksgiving is more than a nice gesture for things we have received.

 

B.   Thanksgiving is a medication, a healing ointment, that can be applied to our spiritual eyes so we can see.

1.    We can see the bounty of God.

2.    We can see the blessings we possess.

3.    We can see the plight of the less fortunate.

4.    We can see the grace found in giving.

5.    We can see the need to practice contentment.

 

C.   1 Chronicles 16:34

 

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.