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BOUND TO GIVE THANKS

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1
14 June 2020

THE PRACTICE OF GIVING THANKS

The Apostle Paul was one person who personally practised the giving of thanks diligently and faithfully. The following are clear examples:

  1. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you     Philippians 1:3
  1. We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ     Colossians 1:3
  1. We give thanks to God always for you all     1 Thessalonians 1:2

AN ADDED THOUGHT

Paul added another thought to the idea of giving thanks.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren,

As it is fitting…     2 Thessalonians 1:3

  1. We are “bound” 

a) The word “bound” means “we ought”

b) There is an element almost of “obligation”

2. To thank God always

a) The Person to be thanked is God Himself

i) Because of who He is

ii) Because of all that He has done

b) Always

i) This is an adverb

ii) It adds meaning to the verb “thank”

c) The challenge

i) Not to give thanks once in a while

ii) But to give thanks all the time

3. As it is fitting

a) This means that it is “right” to give thanks

b) It is correct to give thanks to God

i) We spend much time teaching our children to say “thanks”

ii) This is right and good

iii) We should give thanks to God each and every single day!

THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR

As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he thought of two things that he felt bound to give thanks to God for:

  1. A faith that grows exceedingly     2 Thessalonians 1:3

a) Faith does not grow easily

b) Faith often grows slowly

c) A faith that grows exceedingly is cause for thanksgiving

  1. A love that abounds     2 Thessalonians 1:3

a) Not everyone is able to have love

b) To have a love that abounds is rare

c) This was cause also for thanksgiving 

MAKING THANKSGIVING A PART OF OUR LIFE

Let us be challenged to make the giving of thanks a significant part of our life. There will always be things that would cause us to give thanks!