Picture a child complaining about the food set before them, begging for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, refusing to take even one bite. Then come the familiar words aimed at correcting the child’s attitude: “You should be thankful.” Or in the case of one mom, “I don’t remember taking your order!”
Yes, the child should be thankful, but from the child’s perspective, he is being made to do something he doesn’t like and is kept from what he wants. Gratitude and perspective go hand in hand.
When writing to the church at Colossae, Paul doesn’t simply want them to “be thankful.” He adds measurement to it. He wants them to abound in thanksgiving.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).
To abound is to have an abundance, to fill beyond capacity, to overflow. Paul didn’t just want the Colossians to stop complaining—there isn’t any indication that they were. He didn’t just want them to be thankful because complainers are hard to be around—Paul wasn’t even present with them. He wanted them to overflow with thankfulness because thankfulness is a key weapon in the battle for our souls.
When we are thankful, we are less susceptible to being taken captive by deceitful ideals. False religion and worldly ideals are like a fisherman’s lure that tempts us to chase after what is not truly substantial until we are trapped. But if the fish is already satisfied, it doesn’t chase. Thankfulness cultivates joy, and joy cultivates faithfulness.
Paul also offers the perspective we need to remain thankful, namely the Gospel. “…as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him….” If you are a follower of Christ, remember when you received Christ. Remember the gratitude you felt knowing your sins were erased and God accepted you because of what Jesus has done. Even when life brings an abundance of sorrow (see Psalm 6 and Lamentations 3), nothing can separate you from God’s everlasting love (see Romans 8:18-39).
-Bryan Miller, Pastor of Care
Watch the full sermon from week 4 of our Colossians series here:
