"Completing the Equation"

EPISODE 76

Remember the Source of Your Blessings

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On October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln made a Proclamation of Thanksgiving.

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties … others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God … It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People …"

These words remind me of another great speech given on the plains of Moab — a passage worth reading at our Thanksgiving tables — where Moses explains gratitude to Israel.

Bless the Lord

"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land … a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you" (Deut. 8:7-10).

We tend to handle prosperity poorly. We get so comfortable we can lose perspective and forget the source of our blessed lives (cf. Amos 6:1-7). Moses knew the wealth awaiting those wandering ex-slaves. He tried to prepare them. He calls the promised land "good" — a word God used seven times for the creation we all enjoy (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Rich or poor, we all have reasons to rejoice.

Ever heard someone call giving thanks "saying grace"? The word "grace" refers to the favor God shows us, but also to our expression of gratitude for his favor. And like two sides of a coin, the word "bless" speaks of both the favor God offers us and the adoration we offer him.

In middle school, our algebra teachers insisted that both sides of an equation have the same value. Neglecting to "bless the Lord for the good land he has given" (Deut. 8:10) is like forgetting to complete the equation of grace. To receive without honoring God leads to darkened hearts and futile thinking (Rom. 1:21).

Obey the Lord

Recognizing the source of our blessings leads to honoring God's will for our lives.

"Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments … lest, when you have eaten and are full … then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God ..." (Deut.‬ ‭8:7,14).

Remember the Lord

You've probably worked hard for what you have, but when we get carried away with patting ourselves on the back, we fail to see that our ability to achieve anything comes from God.

"Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth …" (Deut.‬ ‭8:17-18‬)

Thanks be to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, for all of his marvelous gifts!