Bound to Give Thanks ... For You

by Steve Klein

Teaching little children to pray can be a wonderful and sometimes amusing challenge. I recently read about a little three year old girl named Kelli who, when saying her nightly prayers with her mother, would thank God for every family member, every friend, and every pet animal (current and past).   For several weeks, as she finished her prayer, Kelli would add, "And all girls." Finally her mother asked her, "Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?"  Her response: "Because we always finish our prayers by saying 'All Men!'"   You have to admit, "all men" and "amen" do sound alike.  Kelli wanted to make sure the girls were included too!

I wonder if the Lord thinks that teaching adult disciples to pray is also a challenge.  In 1 Timothy 2:1, the apostle Paul exhorts that "giving of thanks be made for all men" (and yes the word "men" here includes girls).  Have we learned this lesson?  Do we thank God for all men?  Do we even thank Him for any men? 

Writing to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul asserted twice that he was "bound" to thank God for the Thessalonians.

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other" (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth"  (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The word "bound" in these passages implies duty or obligation.  We have a very special responsibility to give thanks to God for our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

  Over and over again Paul mentions giving thanks to God for fellow Christians, and he gives several reasons for doing so:

For their faith and love.

"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:15-16).

"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints" (Colossians 1:3-4)

"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints" (Philemon 4-5).

For encouraging and supporting him in his efforts to serve the Lord. 

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now" (Philippians 1:3-5).

For their work and labor in the Lord. 

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father" (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3). 

I fear that somewhere along the way, many of us have gotten out of the habit of thanking God for others.  Could it be that we are taking the faith, love, encouragement and work of our brothers and sisters in Christ for granted?  Let's remember to thank God for one another!  As you count your many blessings, remember that some of God's greatest blessings are not things; they're people! 

 

Other Articles by Steve Klein
How Men Act When They Repent
Are You Tired of Doing the Right Thing?
Are you Stubborn?

 

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