As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to examine how we respond to the blessings God has given us. Do we hold tightly to them, or do we let them flow through us? The way we respond to God’s provision reveals where our peace truly comes from — and whether our thankfulness will lead us into true Thanksgiving or keep us stuck in “thanks getting.”
Three Responses to God’s Blessings
The Bible tells us to “rejoice always, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). But all of us — at one time or another — respond to the things we’re thankful for with selfishness and a desire for just a little bit more. We run the risk of getting stuck in “thanks getting” instead of moving into Thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:15-17 gives us the key insight: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful.” The relationship between peace and thankfulness is crucial — where is our peace? If we have peace and we’re thankful, it should lead to Thanksgiving.
Through three powerful Bible stories, we’ll see how the ruling and re-meaning of God’s peace in our lives dictate whether we go from thankful to Thanksgiving or thankful to “thanks getting.”
1. The Wrong Response: Trying to Keep It
Matthew 19:16-22 tells the story of a young rich man who came to Jesus asking what good deed he must do to have eternal life. He had great wealth, was thankful for it, and wanted to hold onto it. When Jesus told him to sell everything and follow Him, “he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
This man had everything — money brings options, and he had all the options money can buy. But he had no peace. Specifically, he had no peace with God. His idol — his wealth — was standing between him and the assurance he was looking for.
The question we need to ask ourselves: What is it in our life that if it was taken away, would it rob us of our peace? What do we hold onto so tightly that we’d lose our peace if it were gone?
2. The Wrong Response: Building Bigger Barns
In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus tells the parable of a rich man whose land produced abundantly. Rather than being content, he decided to build bigger barns to store everything. His attitude: “I will say to my soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years.”
But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you.” He had everything he needed, yet he was never content. He had no peace because he was striving for security that he couldn’t keep anyway — one day he would die and have no control over anything he saved.
All of us are tempted to build bigger barns in our own lives. We look at our blessings and think, “If I could just have a little more, then I’d be content.” But godliness with contentment is great gain — for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out (1 Timothy 6:6-7).
3. The Right Response: Letting It Flow Through You
1 Kings 17:8-16 tells the story of a poor widow during a time of drought. She had almost nothing — just enough flour and oil for one last meal for herself and her son before they would die. Yet when the prophet Elijah asked her to make him a cake first, she trusted God and did it. And her jar of flour was not spent, and the jug of oil did not become empty.
What made her different? She had peace because she trusted God as her provider — not just for her needs, but for the needs of others. She let the blessings flow through her. She didn’t build bigger barns for herself; she trusted the God who provides.
“Whoever supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce Thanksgiving to God.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
Where Is Your Peace?
The key question is not whether you have blessings — it’s where is your peace? Does the thought of sharing what God has given you fill you with anxiety, or with joy?
If our peace is in God, then we should have peace and trust that God will supply our needs so that we can be a blessing to others. But if our peace is in ourselves — in our savings, our status, our security — we’re like the rich young ruler or the bigger barn builder, always striving, never content.
The poor widow had nothing by the world’s standards, yet she had peace. Why? Because she trusted the God who provides — day by day, hour by hour. She didn’t know where the next meal would come from, but she knew her Provider.
This Thanksgiving: Let It Flow
This Thanksgiving season, we have an opportunity. When we express our thankfulness in giving — whether that’s serving with our time and effort or in giving financially — there’s a promise: God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that we will have all that we need in every way.
As we look at the widow in the time of drought, we see that we experience God’s peace when we choose to let the blessings flow through us instead of hanging on to something we can’t keep forever anyway. We can’t take it with us — but we can let it bless others.
So this week, as you gather with family and friends, take time to think about the things you’re thankful for. And ask God to help you move from thanks getting to true Thanksgiving — by letting His blessings flow through you to others.
Scripture References
- Matthew 19:16-22 — The Rich Young Ruler
- Luke 12:13-21 — The Rich Fool (Build Bigger Barns)
- 1 Kings 17:8-16 — The Widow of Zarephath
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — Rejoice Always, Give Thanks
- Colossians 3:15-17 — Let the Peace of Christ Rule
- 1 Timothy 6:6-7 — Godliness with Contentment
- 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 — The Generous Provider