Presence of the Spirit
The grumbling spirit is not compatible with the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit-filled believer is full not of complaining, but of thanksgiving. – John Stott
Although the text reads that we are to give thanks always and for everything, we must not press these words literally. For we cannot thank God for absolutely ‘everything’, including blatant evil…
So then the ‘everything’ for which we are to give thanks to God must be qualified by its context, namely in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Our thanksgiving is to be for everything which is consistent with the loving Fatherhood of God and the self-revelation he has given us in Jesus Christ. Once again the doctrine of the Trinity informs and directs our devotion. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we give thanks to God our Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
One day Tauler met a beggar. ‘God give you a good day, my friend,’ he said.
The beggar answered, ‘I thank God I never had a bad one.’
Then Tauler said, ‘God give you a happy life, my friend.’
‘I thank God’, said the beggar, ‘that I am never unhappy.’
In amazement Tauler asked, ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well,’ said the beggar, ‘when it is fine I thank God. When it rains I thank God. When I have plenty I thank God. When I am hungry I thank God. And, since God’s will is my will, and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy when I am not?’
Tauler looked at the man in astonishment. ‘Who are you?’ he asked.
‘I am a king,’ said the beggar.
‘Where, then, is your kingdom?’ asked Tauler.
The beggar replied quietly, ‘In my heart.’
– Fourteenth-century German Johann Tauler
the fullness of the Spirit does call us to a radical spirit of gratitude. We are to thank God in the midst of difficulties for everything which is consistent with his Fatherhood and his loving Son… The fullness of the Spirit rules out a grumbling, complaining, negative, sour spirit. No one can be Spirit-filled and traffic in these things. In America we, as a people, have so much. Yet we characteristically mourn what we do not have: another’s house, car, job, vacation, even family. Such thanklessness indicates a life missing the fullness of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, a positive, thankful attitude announces a Spirit filled life. – R Kent Hughes
I can think of many times I have complained about circumstances – I literally cursed my blessings, when my “job” was stressful, or my “cars” would break down, when my kids would… God has blessed me with a job and cars. He gave me a family. Certainly I should give thanks regardless the circumstances of the day.
What about when I am sick, or a family member tragically dies. I believe this verse applies here too. We can certainly give thanks that our GOD “works all things (‘all things’) together for good to them who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. (Romans
I have never seen thanksgiving wasted.
That smiley face was typed as Romans 8 and ) . I guess I should give thanks for “auto-smiley’s” too.
I am a Queen – in my heart.
Thanks, Rob
I love the Tauler story. Thanks Rob. Poignant.