Matter of Perspective

Several years ago I heard a Methodist pastor deliver a sermon at a community Thanksgiving service in Batesburg-Leesville, SC. In that message, Steve Bolte talked about thanksgiving being a matter of perspective. Every situation can be an opportunity for giving thanks depending on how we view it. I have forgotten that message.

It was this perspective of gratitude that caused Paul to endure suffering and still be thankful. In Philippians 4:4 he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; Rejoice!” One of the remarkable things about this passage is that it was written from prison. The apostle also wrote in I Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

If we are honest, most of us would say we struggle to be grateful especially in the face of tough times. Perhaps we need to adopt the attitude of famous Bible commentator Matthew Henry. Dr. Henry was once mugged and robbed by thieves. Afterwards he wrote the following entry in his journal:

“Let me be thankful. First, I was never robbed before. Second, although they took my purse, they didn’t take my life. Third, although they took my all, it was not much. Fourth, let me be thankful because it was I who was robbed and not I who did the robbing.”

Obviously, Matthew Henry had learned a perspective of thanksgiving. How can we learn to have that same point of view? Well, I am still working on it, but I read something recently that made sense. It is the truth that at the heart of sincere gratitude is humility. True thankfulness involves admitting that blessings come from God alone. Too often we act as though we are the source and center of the universe! The truth is that God is the source of every good thing. He deserves our gratitude!

Yours for the kindgom,
David