-For most of us, our communication with the Almighty consists of shopping lists and last-minute end-of-our-rope get-me-out-of-this-Lord’s (if we talk to Him at all). Paul gives us a great model here - he leads with thanksgiving (grateful praying), he is always praying (unceasing praying), and he is praying for others (intercessory praying). In fact, here he is gratefully - praying a lot - for people who he most likely did not even know.
-But we do have so much for which to be thankful. The fact is that everything we have ultimately does come from the Lord, and thus we can and should start by thanking Him for everything instead of constantly just asking Him for more. Gratitude is recognizing the benefit or favorable circumstances enjoyed by you and/or others, and typically involves communicating appreciation and words of thanks to whomever may have had a hand in making it possible (which can be directed both vertically to the Lord from Whom are all things as well as horizontally toward any person or persons who may have also had a hand in it). It is opposed to a consumer-oriented me-first focus which never looks past my needs and my wants and my stuff (see a tragic yet humorous illustration of this in Numbers 11, where God’s people are ungrateful for their daily bread, for their deliverance, and finally for the meat which is both a blessing and a curse from the Lord. their ingratitude is ultimately a rejection of God and His goodness - Numbers 11.20 - which is exactly the same problem Paul points out in Romans 1.21). Ingratitude is the purview of infants - they exist in the realm of ‘me, me, me’ and ‘mine, mine, mine’. Rather, a true sign of maturity, of emotional and spiritual growth and health, is for one to develop patterns of personal contentment and thankfulness and appreciation for my own stuff which then grows and extends to others - gratitude for their successes and efforts and stuff even when it doesn’t directly concern me. How amazing would it be if my kids came to me with hearts full of gratitude for all that I have already done and provided for them, rather than dwelling on and hounding me about the next thing they think they need in order make them happy. If you're a parent, you know exactly how amazing that would be. I think God feels the same way about His children.
-That’s exactly what Paul is showing us here - the kind of gratitude that encompasses the things of others as well. He does this quite a lot actually (cf Romans 1.8, 1Corinthians 1.4, 1Thessalonians 1.2-3). Everything for everybody else is also from the Lord, and if we were able to get our eyes off our navel and actually consider the interests of others (Philippians 2.4), we would find much fodder for prayer, even if we only focused on reasons to give thanks. No doubt some of Paul’s gratitude we see in Scripture can be traced to the reality that all the people for whom he was thankful were fruit of his labor, either directly as spiritual children - he had evangelized their city and had planted that assembly - or (as in this case) indirectly as spiritual grandchildren who had come to faith through the work of someone Paul had trained and in whom he had invested much. In a broad sense every one of these people who were following Christ among the Gentiles were the actual fulfillment of Paul’s call as the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 1.5, Romans 11.13, 1Corinthians 9.2, Galatians 2.8, 1Timothy 2.7).
-But do not miss that Paul is giving thanks TO GOD. Consider that even an atheist may stumble on the general importance of gratitude in life and wind up giving thanks to some non-existent fates, or to the stars or perhaps mother nature, or perhaps to no one in particular. In such an instance all one is really doing is saying that they are lucky, enjoying a fortuitous result of a great cosmic accident. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with counting my blessings, for me to be aware that I have reasons to be thankful, and to subsequently either fail to give proper thanks or to give thanks to the wrong benefactor (esp a non-existent one) - this is certainly ignorant and most likely rude and ultimately serves to reinforce my natural selfishness, that it’s all about me. In my failure to actually recognize and acknowledge my benefactor, my stab at gratitude does very little to enhance my spiritual condition, to say the least.
-Gratitude thus is the seedbed of worship, part of the wondrous divine dance with our Creator. It acknowledges God’s hand, His provision, His preeminence. It says, ‘I trust You, that You know what You’re doing, and that this thing for which I am giving thanks is (ultimately) a good thing (even if it may not feel that way in this moment).’ For example, imagine what it would be like if your kids actually thanked you for some punishment you were forced to administer for their benefit. Think about what it would say about their trust in you and their understanding of your heart. I’m not saying that kids need to worship their parents - far from it - but such a scenario illustrates the potential power of what gratitude can communicate. These two words (altho most languages use only one word to say 'thank you') perhaps more than any other elevate my attitude and enhance all my relationships. We neglect their use to our own detriment.
-This kind of vertical gratitude is a key component of successful leadership (which we definitely observe in Paul). Vertical gratitude is humble - it acknowledges that there is someone greater than me, and that whatever good things happen are not ultimately because of me. It also inspires, and it is contagious. When present in those who lead, it sets a positive tone for the group, and creates an attitude of faith. Bumps in the road are less likely to turn into setbacks or occasions for complaining. Whenever you have a chance to lead or influence others - in your home or in your church or at your school or place of work, know that the example of gratitude you set, one of faith and humility and trust, will indeed set the tone for everybody else.
-And note that Paul’s gratitude includes these Colossian believers. Paul is in essence saying, ‘I thank God for YOU.’ This kind of horizontal gratitude is also a critical part of successful leadership, not to mention part of good relationships in general. It is a way to be a blessing to others. People who get thanked are encouraged to keep going, to do it again. They work harder and longer, and with more confidence and self-esteem, and they are more loyal. They feel better about themselves and about what they’re doing. People who know they are appreciated stick around longer. A lot of people in this world and in your life are and have been working pretty hard, busting their tail, often with no word of thanks from anyone. Keep your eyes out for those whom you can bless with a word of gratitude - it could be a family member or a relative, or someone at your church or place of work, or at the Starbucks or restaurant you frequent. Paul says to these folks who he did not know, ‘I thank God for you’. Who can you thank God for today? Tell them that. Say it to their face if you can, or on the phone if you aren’t nearby. Even if they don’t respond in a tangible way, you can be sure that your word of gratitude will bless and encourage their heart. Be constantly on the lookout for those who need a word of thanks...
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