With the holiday season quickly approaching, we should be sure to take time from our busy schedules to be grateful for the many blessings that we receive each day from God. The following Bible verses can teach us much about doing right by others; they can also remind us to practice gratitude in our daily lives. Truly, that is what being a good Christian is all about!
1. Matthew 6:28-29
In this famous passage, Christ asks us to contemplate the ways in which God provides for us. Even if we’re not aware of His blessings, God can help us in truly remarkable ways. For example, Jesus says to his followers: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
We can learn much about gratitude from this passage. Here, Jesus is speaking directly to those who worry so much about acquiring worldly goods that they forget to feel grateful for their spiritual gifts. They are in fact so focused on the future that they miss out on the wonder of the present moment. If this reminds you of your own view on life at times, you’re not alone: Most of us tend to worry more about the future than we let on. That is okay! Being human means that we will be imperfect at times.
However, we certainly should consider how this form of thinking will affect us in the long-term. If we are constantly living in the future, Christ asks us, are we not forsaking the gift of the present moment? Aren’t we missing out on the gift of life if we are always looking forward to the next big purchase or our next big promotion?
It is true that life does contain some worries that must be addressed. At times of great uncertainty, it is certainly natural to feel some level of anxiety about the future. But when we are in need, God will take notice of our problems and show us the way forward. Each moment of life has value; we should not forget how much of a blessing the experience of life is.
If we are being honest with ourselves, in fact, most of us will acknowledge that we sometimes overlook God’s most important blessings. Just as He provides for the lilies of the field, in other words, God sends us help on a regular basis. This Thanksgiving, we should take time to consider the many things that the Lord has given us and continues to give us. We can honor Him by appreciating the present and discovering the good that is to be found there.
2. Luke 6:38
Describing a key teaching from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, this verse from the Gospel of Luke is one of Christ’s most direct messages about the importance of giving to others. After all, Thanksgiving isn’t just about being grateful for the blessings that we’ve received from God and from other people. This special holiday also gives us the chance to give to other people and to be grateful for the chance to help out our fellow human beings.
When he delivered the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you… For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” In other words, what we will receive in heaven is in direct proportion to what we give to other people here on earth.
Of course, what we give to other people shouldn’t be limited to material things: Over the holidays, we should also ask ourselves about the kind of spiritual gifts that we give to other people. Are we only giving these gifts to people that we like? Even if it’s difficult to do so, have we prayed for people that might not pray for us? Have we truly shown love to people who have not shown us love? Sometimes a kind action delivered to someone who may not have deserved it is one of the greatest gifts that we can give in life. After all, forgiveness is also a gift!
And as Christ tells us, giving to others isn’t always easy. This is especially true when we do good to those who have treated us poorly in the past or who have taken advantage of our charitable works. But there is a reason that Christ commands us to do good to those who are not good to us. When we demonstrate kindness without the hope of reward, we become more like God the Father: Regardless of their social standing or actions, after all, God blesses all of humanity. In order to be more like Him, we should strive to hold ourselves to the same standard.
3. Matthew 19:26
In a simple but truly remarkable passage in the Gospels, Jesus asserts that, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” As the world struggles with much upheaval in 2020, this is a great verse to consider as we make our way into the holiday season.
Indeed, there will be many times in the months to come when we do not feel capable of achieving our goals. We may feel overwhelmed by our problems. We may even ask ourselves how we can possibly find the energy to help other people.
But we must also understand that we are not acting alone when we do good works. We may not always recognize His presence, but God is always there beside us when we are going through difficulties in life. And as Jesus tells us, with God all things are possible.
This holiday season, we should be grateful for the help that God gives us. Simply recognizing that God makes otherwise impossible tasks possible is important. Without God’s help, life would present us with a never-ending series of insurmountable obstacles. With God’s help, however, we are capable of achieving far more than we can possibly imagine.
This Thanksgiving, we should all consider the obstacles that we have overcome and how God has helped us to overcome them. Knowing that God will be there to help you when you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider how much more approachable problems in life will be. Be grateful for His presence in your life just as God appreciates you!
With all these things to consider over the next few weeks, let’s close with a prayer for Thanksgiving.
Heavenly Father, please help us as we consider those in need this holiday season. Please allow us to give special consideration to the needs of people that we may not agree with or who may treat us poorly.
Lord, give us the strength to pray for those who may not pray for us. Allow us to remember all of the many blessings that You have provided us with. Finally, Lord, help us to be more like your Son Jesus Christ.
In emulating Jesus, let us act as an example to the people around us. Help us to make their lives better as we work to become better people ourselves. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.