Today’s scripture: Matthew 25:34-40 & Ecclesiastes 6 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
November is the month that contains our holiday of Thanksgiving. Today, we are beginning a three week series of devotionals sharing various ways of giving thanks and showing gratitude.
My thoughts (Bradley Compton):
In the film Schindler’s List (1993), the deplorable historical villain, Amon Goeth (portrayed by Ralph Feinnes), says to the protagonist, Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), “. . . you know the meaning of the word ‘gratitude’. . . it’s not some vague thing with you like it is with others.” Although Goeth speaks selfishly, seeking material compensation in return for favors, I find that the political delicacy of these words in the script resonate with my own understanding of gratitude: it isn’t “some vague thing” going on in our minds or a mere “thank you” from our lips, but it’s rather a way we comport ourselves in our daily lives. This may entail warmer, more heartfelt instances of reciprocity than those found in business and politics, e.g., cooking for a friend who has helped you in some manner or buying a gift for your significant other. However, in what ways can I show such reciprocity to God? God doesn’t need help moving furniture, or a “Get Well Soon” card, or flowers to cheer up on a tough day. I believe that today’s scriptures from the Old and New Testaments convey the two most important forms of gratitude. Christ says that if you feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome in the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the incarcerated, you are serving God. That is the first important form of gratitude: service to others. On the other hand, the author of Ecclesiastes states that if one is blessed in a variety of possible ways, presumably with the means to serve others, yet “does not enjoy life’s good things,” then “a stillborn child is better off” than that person! In fact, throughout Ecclesiastes, the author of which scholars believe to be Solomon, the man who chose wisdom when God offered him anything he wanted, we read that even wisdom is worthless if life is unenjoyable. So that is the second important form of gratitude: enjoying life.
Thought for the day: Gratitude to God is simple, but not always easy: it’s serving others and being happy.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.