A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE

A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE
“Humility, Simplicity, Integrity”
Psalm 131
November 23, 2011

We’re taking a break in our study of John and dealing with the subject of Thanksgiving.
Well, in a few days Thanksgiving will be here. Thanksgiving has become a preparation for Christmas. The reason for Thanksgiving seems to have lost its meaning. That’s a shame because the art of giving thanks is one of the noblest things a person can do. When we say “thank you” we’re acknowledging that we have received something that we didn’t earn or deserve. A person who understands that all of life is the ultimate gift from God is a happy person indeed. Life itself is the ultimate gift. Which is why the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “….in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

When we can’t do anything else, we can always be grateful. As someone has said, “If you can’t be thankful for what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.” With that in mind, let’s go to our text verses.

Charles Spurgeon said that this Psalm is “one of the shortest to read, but one of the longest to learn.” There are 3 qualities for us to think about this Thanksgiving. The first is:

THE QUALITY OF HUMILITY -- Psalm 131:1 says, “O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.”

We live in a culture that doesn’t value humility. From the moment we are born, we are urged to look out for number one. And our level of success is measured by the car we drive, the home we buy, the clothes we wear, and the friends we keep. For many, the attitude is one where your love for others is measured by how much you spend. It’s a sad commentary on the way we live.
David describes humility in terms of how he looked at his own limitations when he said, “Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.” David was saying, “I don’t know have all the answers to life’s problems and I don’t try to figure them out.”

Proverbs 3:5-7 echoes David’s view when it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” No one here this morning is smart enough to have all of the answers all of the time to all of the problems. We all have limits.

Lately, the New Age gurus we’ve been learning about, talk to us about our unlimited potential and the untapped resources within us – that we are God. The truth is, our potential is very limited and the only untapped resources are the ones we discover when we come to the end and admit that we are limited but God is not.

It’s been said, “Happy is the man who knows his limits and still does the very best he can.” The 2nd quality that this Psalm speaks of is:

THE QUALITY OF SIMPLICITY -- Psalm 131:2 “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.”

The picture is one a mother can fully understand. When a child is born they look to mother’s breast as the source of breakfast, lunch and supper. But the day comes when he has to learn how to take a bottle. He cries, big tears roll down his face, his arms reach out but his mother pushes them away. This woman, who used to be his friend has now become his enemy. Mom knows that she will feed him but never again in the same way.

When he learns to eat with his brothers and sisters, then the child comes, lays his head on his mother’s breast, not to be fed, but just to love her and be near her. Once he could not live without his mother’s milk; now he no longer needs it. What we need is:

A CHILDLIKE TRUST IN GOD – David is saying, “I’ve come to the place where the things I thought I had to have, I don’t need anymore. Now my soul is quiet and content.”

Most of us think that our level of contentment is determined by how many of our needs are met. “ If only I had a new car, or a new job, or a new husband or wife, then I could be really happy.” But if contentment is measured by how much of the world’s goods you possess, can you ever say, “I have enough.” Since life is hardly ever that simple, we stay frustrated when we ought to be happy.

No wonder Christmas is a nightmare and that people are never satisfied. Instead of being weaned from the world, we are welded to it. So our soul is anything but quiet, our countenance anything but peaceful.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” There is something children can teach us at Thanksgiving. They can teach us what it means to have a simple and uncomplicated trust in God.

How does God go about weaning us from our dependence on the things of the world? I read a three-part answer from a Bible commentator writing over a century ago. First, he makes the things of the world bitter to us. Second, he removes the things on which we depend. Third, he gives us something better. In the end, we find that we no longer need the things we used to think we couldn’t do without. And our walk with God is stronger than ever before. The 3rd quality this Psalm speaks of is:

THE QUALITY OF INTEGRITY -- Psalm 131:3 “O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever.”

The word “hope” in Hebrew is miqveh (mik-VAY) and means to wait with confidence. It means you know the thing you are waiting for will happen because the person you are waiting on is trustworthy.”

God weans us from our dependence on the things of this world so that we will not be bribed into trusting him. What credit is it to you if you trust God because you have a mate, a house, a job, a happy home, a secure future, and good health? What will you do when you lose those things and life falls in on you -- what then?

Integrity is all about choosing to put your confidence in God alone. It’s coming to the place where you don’t measure your spirituality by your prosperity. It’s learning that the things you used to crave aren’t so important anymore.

The song says, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” The surprise is not just in the outward material blessings of the last year. It is also in the times of pain and suffering which seemed to be for no good purpose but turned out to be blessings in disguise. That, too, is the goodness and grace of God.
Christians ought to be the most thankful people on the face of the earth because our hope is in Jesus Christ. Our hope isn’t in our government, or our denomination, or possessions, or people. Our hope is in Jesus Christ both now and forever.

CALL ---- The greatest blessing in this life is to know that we are in God’s family because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross--to know that all of our sins can be forgiven – that we can have a new life – and that when we leave this life, heaven will be our eternal destiny. It’s all because of Jesus dying for us and shedding His innocent blood. Will you accept Jesus this morning as your Lord and Savior?

Friends, this Thanksgiving ask the Lord to help you live your life with simplicity, humility and integrity. And put your hope in the Lord.

Father, to say thank You for all of the blessings that we have received from You hardly seems adequate. Help us to be people who live with the quality of humility that shows us that we do not have all of the answers to the problems in life. But instead may we live with the understanding that a dependence on You will guide our steps. Help us to be a people of simplicity and to have that child like trust in You that will bring us contentment. Finally, help us to be a people of integrity with a complete confidence in You in both the good times and the bad times. May these qualities become so Christ-like in our lives each day, that others will see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN