Thanksgiving Philippians 4:6-20 Give Thanks to God
Deuteronomy 8:1-10 Luke 17:11-19
Her name is Saloni and she lives in Bangladesh. Saloni is a single mother of two: a two year old and one just 3 months old. She is fortunate enough to have a small piece of land that is very fertile because she lives in a flood plain. Unfortunately, several years ago a cyclone killed her parents and they lost all of the livestock. Saloni is considered to be moderately poor and cannot afford to buy any chickens or goats. But despite not having any farm animals, this has been a good year for Saloni. There hasn’t been a serious flood or a cyclone on her little plot of land and they have enough to eat. She is even producing enough milk to feed her infant. Many mothers in her area do not.
About 20 per cent of the rural households in Bangladesh live in extreme poverty and are worse off than Saloni. One out of every five children dies from malnutrition before they reach their fifth birthday. Many of the people suffer constant food uncertainty, own no cultivable land or assets, are often illiterate and may also suffer serious illnesses or disabilities. Only 19 per cent of rural households have electricity and it goes off frequently. Health clinics are few and far between and there are no roads for aid trucks to bring food and clothing into such a muddy and remote area.
While Saloni and her family generally have enough to eat, their diets lack protein and other nutritional elements. Still, Saloni shares what she can with others around her who are less fortunate. At only 19 years of age, she is relatively healthy, aside from the fungal infections on her feet and under her toenails. She has never watched TV or even rode in a car. While most of Bangladesh is Muslim, she is Hindu. Saloni, which means beautiful in Sanskrit, has a beautiful smile and you may find it surprising that she smiles a lot.
Earlier this week I heard of someone who from all outwards appearances has a much better life than Saloni. This man has lived his adult life within a multimillion dollar house. He has several luxury cars and boats and dresses in fine clothing. He eats in the finest restaurants and one look at his body and you can tell he has never missed a meal.
He is a mortgage banker from West Palm Beach, Florida. However, it is not a good time to be a mortgage banker in this country especially in Florida.
Because of his shady dealings and loan defaults, his company is failing and he is under a great deal of stress. He is in real danger of losing his home and all of his possessions. His wife and family have left the house and filed for divorce because he has taken out his frustrations on her too many times. He has been arrested and charged with fraud. On top of that, all of that stress has caused him to recently suffer a heart attack. Consequently, he has not smiled for a long time.
While Saloni has relatively little, she is content. Conversely, the banker who had so much has never really been happy. The reality is that even if the banker goes to prison, he will be better fed, better clothed and have better health care than Saloni and her family. Still Solani will be happy and the banker will be miserable. Wouldn’t it be nice to know her secret? It’s really very simple.
Saloni accepts life as it comes no matter how severe it may be, because according to her religion, she is being punished for her past sins. She finds happiness in her children, in the simple things of life and in helping those less fortunate. Saloni hopes and prays that when she dies, the gods will reincarnate her into a new and better life here on earth. Even though her hope is based on a false religion, her hope is real, nevertheless.
The banker however, does not know the secret of being content. He does not believe in God or even in an afterlife. He has been too busy making money to enjoy what he has, because when he compared his millions to the billionaires in his area, he never felt he had enough. His life in this world and his material possessions are all he has--and now his life and all he has is quickly slipping away. Since he has no faith, he has no hope and he has no prayer.
My friends when it comes to being rich in earthly terms, we are certainly wealthier than Saloni. Yet she seems to be happier in her poverty than many of us are in our wealth. And the banker who has been wealthier than us is more miserable than we are.
Ironically, even though they both need help, we tend to want to help the poor woman who is content rather than the wealthy man who is depressed.
That is because we tend to measure our success by outward things rather than the inner workings of the Spirit upon our hearts. The secret of being content does not come from having possessions. Moses tells you, “that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” When we look within our hearts, we see that we are filled with unquenchable lustful longings and sinful desires which always leave us wanting more. The paradox is that we tend to value tangible earthy needs and endeavors more so than spiritual heavenly activities but at the same time it is our faith in the Word of God that is most valuable.
In our epistle lesson, Saint Paul says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” The one who gives Paul strength is none other than Jesus Christ.
My friends, you are wealthier than Saloni in your faith because she is burdened with her sins. She accepts that her gods are punishing her and therefore expects nothing more than a continuous cycle of being born into a sin-filled world. You have forgiveness of your sins because of what Christ has done on the cross. You have one life to live in faith and when God calls you home, there will be no more pain and suffering for you. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things ‘will have’ passed away.”
And you are wealthier than the banker because the riches of this world are temporary. The banker’s wealth is ending and he is still burdened with his sins. But you have a share in the riches of heaven which are everlasting. No matter what happens to you in this world, whether you are rich or poor, in good health or in sickness and want, you can place your hope and trust in Jesus Christ who has promised you eternal life in the world to come.
Christ who has died for you will certainly watch over your soul. He will not tempt you beyond what you can handle by giving you too much nor will He let you suffer needlessly. So Saint Paul tells you and all followers of Christ, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Then Paul adds, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
It is when we rebel against His word and His way that we find ourselves unhappy and disillusioned. True peace, however, only comes from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and following Him. We truly thank God by showing our trust in Him in good times as well as in bad. So let us always give thanks to God for so richly blessing us. In Jesus name, Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.