Paul: His Life and His Teachings Thanksgiving
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No.8 Paul: His Life and Teachings – Thanksgiving (Part 1)
No.9 Paul: His Life and Teachings – Thanksgiving (Part 2)
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It has been a while since we celebrated Thanksgiving. Yet, this lesson will be about thanksgiving as we study Paul’s reasons for being thankful for the churches he was writing to. These reasons should also be the reasons why we should be thankful to God for the work of the ministry. We will see ourselves in these letters, but we do not react as for how the apostle Paul burst into thanksgiving and praise as he recognizes God’s grace and faithfulness at work in a believer’s life. It is with such attitude of thankfulness that Paul’s letters are peppered with thankfulness for what God is doing in the lives of every saint. In Romans chapter 1, we will find Paul thanking God for the faith of the believers in Rome that is being talked about (v.8). This is not just thanking God for claimed faith but for the faith that is being proclaimed, testified to, or heralded by some. Paul is thankful to God for the faith of the Roman Christians. This shows the necessity of living by faith. Not just living by faith, but living by faith that others can observe and hear about.
Everything that we do is hinged on faith. This is whether we are living as Christians or not. For instance, when we take a job, we believe that we will get paid. When we get involved in any relationship, we do it by faith. Especially when getting married, the couple do it by faith despite not knowing how the other is going to act after the marriage vows are declared. When we join a church, we need to believe that we will get spiritual nourishment from that ministry. When we give, we believe that somehow the Lord is going to bless us back. We need to believe in the principle of “sowing and reaping. All we do are based on faith be it swimming, playing, or driving. In fact, in Christianity, if one does something that is not of faith, it is sin (cf. Rom. 14:23). The referenced passage is in the context of eating. There were so many foods forbidden in the Jewish tradition that the Gentiles eat. As the Gentiles got saved, the question is, do they have to adopt the Jews lifestyle which includes eating standards? The answer is a categorical “no.” Christians need to realize that we don’t have to become like what the Jews were before the Lord came.
So, what Paul heard proclaimed regarding their faith is how they are applying the Scriptures in their lives. That is living by faith according to the Word of God. When you give, it has to be done in faith or it is a sin. When a person gives by faith: (a) He doesn’t do it grudgingly; (b) He does it generously; (c) He doesn’t give his leftovers to God because he knows that God provides, and (d) He believes that with the same measure that he metes it shall be meted to him. Faith develops a consistently good reputation (v,8.). The faith of the Roman Christians was reported all over the world. It has to be pretty consistent to develop such reputation. Do we need to ask ourselves what kind of reputation are we consistently developing? This kind of faith invites impartation of more spiritual blessings from Paul (v. 11). Paul was constantly imparting spiritual blessings to the Churches that he went to or places that he ministered to. It was not an on and off ministry. When we are established in our faith, we will begin to see that our ministry is very consistent. Just as in the business world, we develop our “niche.” A mature Christian, established in the faith and in the gospel of the Lord is a constant source of blessing.
Such kind of faith also invites impartation of more gifts and encouragements (vv. 11-12). Paul gives and receives encouragement. There are those who constantly need to be encouraged or they forget all about Christianity. There are those who are a constant source of encouragement. Likewise, there are those who are a constant source of discouragement. A Christian living by faith is a constant source of encouragement while he himself receives encouragement from others, or from the Lord directly. Secondly, Paul thanks God for His enriching grace (cf. 1 Cor. 1:4-9). This is not the grace to be saved but the grace was given after salvation. This means that they were enriched in all speech, and all knowledge; and that the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them. They are not lacking in any gift, and they wait eagerly for the revelation or the 2nd Coming of Jesus. Being enriched in all knowledge means that the Word is both in our hearts and near our mouth and it is written at the same time. Paul leaned on the fact that the grace of God had richly blessed them with knowledge. This is itself is revelation knowledge.
With all the gift and the grace of God, we need to be watchful and careful about how we speak and what we know. Praise be to God!