Today, you will undoubtedly see friends and family share messages on social media about the things in their life they are thankful for: freedom, relationships, jobs, homes, etc. These are all blessings that we should be thankful for today and every day.
But, there’s another way we can show thankfulness: Service and sacrifice.
There are so many reasons for Christians to invest time and resources in service to others. When you serve others, you are not only meeting a need but also being obedient to what the Apostle Paul called the “plain meaning of the Message of Christ.”
In his letter to the fledgling Christian community in Corinth (modern day Greece), Paul implores the Corinthians (the majority of whom were not Jews) to share resources with the struggling Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem. For Paul, to share resources in this way was an exercise of faith, a demonstration of obedience to the calling of Christ on our lives and an offering of Thanksgiving for God.
Read how Paul describes the simple sacrifice of offering help to the impoverished Christians in Jerusalem:
Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone.
2 Corinthians 9: 12-14 (The MessagE)
In the next few weeks, we will dive into all of the letters from the Apostle Paul. These letters offer more insight into the “plain meaning” of the Good News.
For now, let us show our thankfulness to God, as often as we can, in service to others.
See you Sunday!
The Pipe 