Thanksgiving: The Outcome of Ministry

"For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God"
(2 Corinthians 9:12)

Ask absolutely anyone about Thanksgiving, beloved, and they will tell you that it is one of our national holidays! And to so many people that is basically all that it is - Turkey Day - the chance for family and friends to gather for a scrumptious meal and to spend quality time together. Not a bad idea either, is it?

But check the pages of God's Word, beloved, and what you discover quickly is that "thanksgiving" is more than a holiday! In fact, Scripture has so much to say about thanksgiving that it is quite impossible in this short space to deal with all that it does say. Let's confine ourselves, then, to the single verse above and see for ourselves that thanksgiving is actually the natural outpouring of passionate, effective ministry.

The word "ministry" is the Greek word from which we derive our word "deacon" and is simply translated as ministry in the sense of serving one another. That, by the way, is what deacons are meant to do, but that is another subject for another day! Paul had been up to his eyebrows in ministry himself, specifically a love-offering being collected from saints in every region to be taken back to Jerusalem and ministered there to the needy in that area. Believers everywhere had been more than generous, many like the Macedonians giving through great personal sacrifice to "fully supply the needs of the saints" in Jerusalem.

Then the word "service" is a Greek word which could well be translated worship through service or ministry and stands in contrast to what takes place traditionally in a house of worship on any given day. It refers to that "worship" of God that is offered by us through the acts of personal ministry which we carry out on behalf of others. You see, beloved, as Paul was making clear, there is "worship" and then there is "worship"!

As the material needs of the Jerusalem saints were being met, people from all regions who had learned about it began to offer thanksgiving to God for it, especially those in the city of Jerusalem. Thus, their words of thanksgiving became the outcome of ministry!

Did you know that you and I should be the cause for God receiving thanksgiving from those who know us personally, beloved? Our actions ought to motivate people to lift holy hands in praise to God and to thank Him for what He has done and is doing through our lives. How many people who know you personally have reason to give thanks to God for you? How much is God receiving glory and honor because of what you are doing? I know of no better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to serve others and to bring God praise!

Turkey and dressing are delicious, no doubt about that! But thanksgiving is meant to be the natural by-product of ministry, beloved. It really is more than a holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

Ron