A Recipe for Giving Thanks

 

“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”–1 Thess 3:9 (NIV)

 

Nobody could accuse me of being a chef, but I know that the right  ingredients  and  recipe  are  critical  to  a  dish’s  success. Heloise wrote in her “hints” column that the best way to cook a moist turkey is to “put a cup of water in the cavity of the turkey, cover with tin foil and bake.” A reader wrote back to complain: “The turkey came out fine, but the plastic cup in the turkey melted!” What a reminder that directions must be specific!

 

Fortunately, the Bible gives us some specifics for a “recipe of thankfulness” to others. (By the way, this also applies to thanking God!) Glance at Nehemiah 3. It is a chapter you might easily skip over. It seems rather long and a bit monotonous. Yet the repetitive and comprehensive nature shows four lessons for giving thanks to others.

 

Be Specific – Nehemiah (a) puts in writing (b) each name and

(c) their specific contribution to the rebuilding of the Jerusalem city walls. If you want just one example, read v. 15. Now that’s specific gratitude! Paul also frequently thanks God for those he’s writing to. And when he does, he  always  mentions  why  (e.g., Rom 1:8; Phil 1:3-5; Col 1:3-12; 1 Thess 1:2-3; 2 Thess 1:3; Phile 4-5).

 

Be Singular – A “group thanks” can be meaningful. But singling out individuals—as Nehemiah and Paul (e.g., Rom. 16) did— shows them even more gratitude. Which would you rather have?

 

Be Sensitive – Nehemiah notes that “the people worked with all their heart” (4:6). The best words of thanks recognize not only the action but also the heart attitude behind the action. Jesus showed this when he noticed a child’s humility, a widow who gave her last two mites, and a woman who poured perfume on His feet.

 

Be Searching – Nehemiah’s sensitivity led him to be searching. He searched out and noticed each person and their unique contribution. That’s why the chapter is so long! Most of us have already planned our Thanksgiving menu. But have we planned who we’ll express thanks to and how? Let’s take some time to fill in the ingredients for this “thanksgiving recipe.”

 

To Discuss and Do: Have everyone share at least one other person they’re thankful for and why. Then make a plan to express your gratitude to those people by the end of this week. Do it “Nehemiah style!”