Lisa Sheffler, author

This week, we’ve mainly focused on showing our gratitude to God, but it is also entirely appropriate to thank one another. As the body of Christ we are eternally connected. When we help, encourage, and support one another, we are strengthening the body and acting as agents of God’s grace in one another’s lives. It is a good thing to acknowledge acts of kindness, generosity and goodness and be thankful for them.

In some of Paul’s letters we see him expressing gratitude to the Christians who funded and supported him in his mission to spread the gospel and plant new churches.

Read

Romans 16:3–4

³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. ⁴ They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

Philippians 4:14–19

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

How can you tell that Paul is grateful to his fellow believers?

Reflect

Paul acknowledges and is grateful for the work of others in advancing the gospel. He recognizes that many of his fellow workers sacrificed for the cause of Christ. Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple who lived, traveled, and ministered with Paul. They were teachers in the early church and allowed believers to meet in their home. They risked their lives for the cause of Christ.

The Philippian church partnered with Paul in his ministry and provided financial assistance. As he said in the passage above, at the time they were the only church who sent him aid. Notice that Paul is grateful for their support — but not because of what it did for him. Paul says that he desires their gifts because it will be credited to their account. Paul knows that God sees their sacrifice and his pleased. He makes that his focus. Throughout Paul’s letters to the churches we see that his primary concern was for their spiritual growth. Even in his gratitude, we see this emphasis and should consider how we can learn from Paul’s example.

When we acknowledge and show gratitude to a person, we are in essence, encouraging them to do more good. When God uses someone to do good in our lives, we should thank them, but also praise him for his work in their lives.

There is a godly woman in our church who sometimes blesses me with lovely, handwritten thank you notes. To get one in the mail is a real pleasure because it’s always nice to be thanked. But the way this kind lady expresses her gratitude is significant. She recognizes that it is God who gets the ultimate glory for anything I do. In her notes, she writes words of thanks to me and also praises God for the work he is doing in my life. So, not only is she expressing her gratitude for something I’ve done in the past, she is encouraging me to be faithful in the future. Can you see why I love to get her notes?

This week, we’re seeing that gratitude can be a powerful force in our lives. It feels really good to express it to others, and to receive it ourselves. It reminds us that as human beings we need each other and that it is a privilege to be a positive force in another person’s life.

Expressing thanks is also a way to honor Christ before a watching world. We all have regrettable moments, but courtesy and respect should be the norm for a Christian in his or her everyday life. Because we recognize everything as a gift from God, and not an entitlement for which we are due, we should be quick to say thank you. Christians should be encouraging those around us by acknowledging and appreciating their kindness and/or hard work. Rudeness can too easily ruin our witness.

When we express our thanks to others, it humbles us and makes us more gracious. It allows us to affirm the good in others and encourages them to keep doing good. When we receive thanks, it shouldn’t puff us up, but remind us to praise God for the good he does through us. A habit of gratitude will not just strengthen our relationship with God, but with other people.  

Respond

As Christians, we should be the first to show gratitude to others for the good they do in our lives. How are you at saying thank you? If you are married, do you tell your spouse that you appreciate them? What about other family members — parents, siblings, children? What about friends, neighbors and co-workers — do you show your gratitude to them? With thanksgiving approaching, is there something you can do to show some of the special people in your life that you are grateful to and for them?

Think about other people with whom you have contact. How do you treat people who work for you or with you at your job? Or those who wait on you at stores and restaurants? What about the auto-mechanic, dry-cleaner, landscaper, parking lot attendant or anyone who helps make your life a little better? How can you thank them in a meaningful way?

I hope you have had some wonderful Christians in your life that have helped you along in your spiritual journey — mentors, friends, teachers, counselors, pastors. Consider writing them a thank you note expressing your gratitude to them and encouraging them in their faith. I know they would be grateful for your effort!

Let gratitude move you to action as you express your thanks to others.