Dear Christian friends:
On many streets in our city you can see a large sign
by Swift and Company showing a grandfather and his
grandson sitting at a table before a large turkey.
Their heads are lowered in a Thanksgiving prayer.
"Many people see this sign and they say Very nice!
God will be happy on Thanksgiving Day because many
eat turkey and then pray." But is God really happy
with our Thanksgiving Day here in America?
Was God happy when the Jews prayed and worshipped on
their holidays? No! Jesus said, "These people come near
to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but
their heart is far from Me." And I'm sure Jesus will say
the same about many Americans who pray before their
turkeys today.
Many people pray and say thanks to God but they do not
believe in Him in their hearts. Their words and deeds
at other times show that they are false.
Our text today shows what true thanksgiving is
True Thanksgiving
The rich man in our text was happy on this Thanksgiving
Day. Jesus says his land gave him a good crop. So much
he had a problem. Not enough room to store it all. So
he decided to tear down his old barns and build new
barns. He did this and put all his large crop in and
locked the doors. Then he had a Thanksgiving Dinner
like we have today in America. He said, "Now I can
take it easy, eat drink and be merry. Nothing to
worry about. Plenty in my barns; plenty in my banks
and plenty on my table.
Did his Thanksgiving Day please God? God said to
him: "You fool, tonight you will die and who will get
your money and things?" Where will your soul go? To
heaven or hell?
Are you like this rich man? Are you happy today because
you have a job, a house and money in the bank. Are you
happy because in about two hours you will sit down
before a big fat turkey? If you are you are a fool and
your Thanksgiving is nothing.
You should not be happy today because you have a job,
house, money in the bank and a turkey on your table.
You should be happy because you have God in heaven,
God the Father almighty maker of heaven and earth, Jesus
His only Son our Lord, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Christian
Church etc. This is your God and this ought to be your
joy and pleasure this Thanksgiving Day.
You will show whether this is true or not by how you
serve him. Jesus says in our text, "So is he who lays up
treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Are
you rich toward God? Do you give generously for God and
His work?
Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, little flock,
for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses
for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven
that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth
destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also." (Luke 12:32-34)
One who keeps a true Thanksgiving rejoices in God the
heavenly Father who has made us all his children by faith
in Christ Jesus.
May God give you His Holy Spirit to help you keep a true
Thanksgiving today and every day.
Amen.