Thankfulness That Outlasts the Leftovers

Have you ever gone to buy something for Thanksgiving and the store was out? "Well, I guess Thanksgiving's ruined." Maybe you can't afford a turkey this year and it's a chicken. Maybe you just buy the turkey breast because there aren't enough people around the table anymore.

That's hard. But we can't base our thankfulness on what we have or don't have. You might be having a great year. Congratulations. You might be having an awful one. Either way, a thankful posture isn't built on the stuff. It's built on the source.

Psalm 100 ends by giving us reasons that last:

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

Notice the first word: for. It doesn't say "because your circumstances are good" or "because your table is full." The reason is the Lord Himself.

He is good

That's an essential fact. He made us. He shepherds us. He is good.

Matthew Henry wrote about this psalm: "How sad soever our spirits may be when we look to ourselves, yet we shall have reason to praise the Lord when we look to His goodness." We look beyond our circumstances and our stuff, and we find our footing in Him.

His mercy lasts

That's an eternal fact. When money is tight and the bonus didn't come, we can be thankful that mercy is free. Salvation is free. His love is given freely.

When there are empty chairs at the table, we can be thankful that the people we love who knew Christ are seated at another table, waiting for us to arrive. Live long enough and you may outlive your family and your friends. You can still be thankful, because they're waiting for you.

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

Thanksgiving wears off. Thankfulness shouldn't. Our chairs empty over time, but the family of God gathers for good one day. Even when money's tight, salvation is free. Even when the food runs out here, He has set a table before us.

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

His truth endures

That's an enduring fact. He's faithful. He's loyal. He's a covenant-keeping God, and His truth endures to all generations.

Everything else runs out. This world runs out. The turkey runs out. Satisfaction runs out. He never runs out. If we find our gratitude in Him, the source of living water, our gratitude won't run out either.

You might run out of things to put on your list. If you're a list maker, maybe this year's list is short. It isn't short because God isn't good. It's short because your eyes are tired. So pray, "Lord, help me see Your goodness. It's been a rough year. Help me see past the stuff to the source."

And if this has been a year of abundance for you, let it remind you that not everyone has it so good. The thanksgiving offering in Leviticus 7 was meant to be shared. So while you're feasting, bring someone else to your table, and bring them to your Savior, your shepherd, the source.

This week, think of one person who will face an empty chair or a lean table this Thanksgiving. Invite them to yours, or find a way to carry a little of your table to them.