Philippians 1:12-21, Gratitude vs. unthankfulness

1)    Definition: making known to God and to others in what ways they have benefited my life.

2)    Scripture: Prov. 27:21; Psalm 136 (plus many other Psalms); Romans 1:21; 12:10; 1 Cor. 4:6-8; Eph. 4:32; 5:20; Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:18.

3)    Underlying Principle: 1) The basic requirement of creation is to treat the Creator as God and to thank Him for His blessings.  (Rom. 1:21)  2) It is the will of God that we give thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:18).

4)    Illustration: 1 Samuel 25.  This is the story of David and Abigail.  Abigail’s husband Nabal was not grateful for the blessing of security David and his men had showered on him.  David’s expression of thanks to Abigail (25:32-34) is well spoken.  Given that thanksgiving is fundamental in the relationship of people to their Creator, the Bible is filled with illustrations of gratitude and lack of gratitude.

5)    Bible Study:

a)    The importance of thanksgiving.

i)      Rom. 1:21: Failure to give thanks is the second step away from God.  First, we fail to treat Him as God.  Then we fail to thank Him for His goodness.  What Cain and Abel were doing through their offerings in Gen. 4 was to give God thanks.  And by the way, the Creator’s blessings are not just food, clothing and a home.  Through our trials He blesses us with Christlikeness.

ii)   1 Th. 5:18: In everything give thanks.  Short verse.  Uncomplicated truth.  Some make a distinction here: not “for” everything but “in” everything give thanks.  But note some illustrations about “everything.” 

(1)                        In Mt. 5:10-12 Jesus taught that we should “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” when persecuted for Christ. 

(2)                        Thus, in Phil. 1:12-18, Paul, in prison, being criticized by some of the brethren, still was thankful because Christ was being preached. 

iii)            Col. 3:17: This gives us another way to think about giving thanks in everything.  Whatever we do, we should be doing it in the Name of the Lord Jesus.  In other words, we are doing what He would do in a situation; and we are doing it for His glory.  Our attitude in all of this is to be one of “giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  So again, referring to Mt. 5:10-12, it’s not just when people persecute us; it’s when they persecute us “for My sake.”