A recent Rasmussen poll
found that fifty-three percent (53%) of Americans say they are more thankful
this Thanksgiving than they were last year at this time. Digging a little
deeper into the contents of the poll, I found a question about religion and
thankfulness. The poll found that the plurality (41%) of adults say their
religious faith is what they are most thankful for, after family and health. In
other words, the thing that most adults are thankful for after their family and
health is their religious faith. These findings in the poll point to a sharp
distinction between religious faith and biblical Christianity. The first
commandment says that there shall be no other gods before the one true God.
Clearly, from the results of this poll, family and health occupy the place of
most importance to most Americans. While it is important to interpret polls
carefully and look closely at the way questions are stated, this result
resonates with the trend of American culture. Our religion is something that
serves us and satisfies what we want. The immediate, in this case health and
family, are those things that truly dominate our lives. These things hold the
place of first importance, a place that God reserves for himself alone. Health
and family are good things, but they must not surpass fidelity to God as the
very core of what is important in life.
Thanksgiving Day marks the
beginning of the holiday season. This time of year is a mixture of emotional
ups and downs. Folks are happy to give and receive gifts, but they are also worried
about how they will pay for these same gifts. People look forward to seeing
family and friends, but then are reminded of all the personal issues they have
with these same family and friends. Parties and celebrations abound, but these occasions
are colored by hangovers and other manifestations of sensual indulgence. Church
attendance will spike upwards at Christmas, but will quickly fall back to
normal levels in January.
At least one reason for
this trend is reflected in the Rasmussen poll that analyzes our thankfulness. For
the vast majority of Americans, something or someone other than God dominates
their lives. It is important for Christians to consider if we have followed the
culture in this. Is something other than God the core value that dominates your
life? What you are thankful for reveals the attitude of your heart. You are
like the world--actually you are loving the world--if God is just one of the things that your mind tallies
up in a list of things to for which to be thankful. God is not interested in
sharing space with anything or anyone other than himself. This doesn't mean you
can't be thankful for the good things God brings to you, but God must be unique.
He must be first in your gratitude and affections. Everything else, including
health and family, should be on another list entirely. It is not a good sign when
God is added to the things we are grateful for about life.
In
the Palm 100, God is to receive praise and thanks simply for being who he is.
His great character alone is to be the basis of our worship, praise and
gratitude. He will not share his glory with another. The more deeply your life
is tied to the pursuit of the person of God and the more you delight in the relationship
you have with him, the less like the world you will become. Stability and
security will increase as the focus of your gratitude shifts away from people,
things and circumstance and moves toward the awesome wonder of your God. This
is a theme that your family needs to hear this holiday season. God cannot be
evaluated by polls or moods. Pray for faithfulness to the person of God. This
holiday season, witness to the uniqueness of Christ in the way you celebrate.
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