Giving thanks in everything is godliness

Our God is good and His mercies endure forever! I am happy for this opportunity to continue sharing with you the revelations God from His Word that He has been giving me. You probably remember the story about a widow whose two children were close to being made slaves. This widow ran to Prophet Elisha since she needed a miracle. When Elisha heard of the situation he did not pray about it; he only asked what she had in her house: 

«A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours – empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest”» (2 Kings, 4:1-7).

 Once again we see that this woman’s miracle was at her own house; she just did not know about it. When Prophet asked her a question, she said that there was nothing in the house, except a jar of oil. She had so many problems and needs that she had not paid attention to this jar; it seemed to be something insignificant and worthless. You might have nothing except salt and sugar in your house today. Start giving thanks to God for what you have and you will see what God can do with it. Always look for reasons to give thanks to God. Apostle Paul said: 

 «Now godliness with contentment is great gain» (1Timothy, 6:6).

 You will never be godly and content, unless you start giving thanks to God for what you have. Giving thanks in everything is godliness. Where there is godliness, provision will come as well! What did Paul mean by saying that he had learned to be abased and to abound? What did he mean by saying knew how to be full and to be hungry? 

 «Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me» (Philippians, 4:11-13).

 Paul was following is Master’s example; at any given time he did not focus his attention on the things he did have. Instead, he gave thanks to God for the things he had. Paul did not grumble or complain; he gave thanks to God for everything. Because of it his life was filled with many miracles. Paul stated, «I can do all things», because he was strengthened by Christ. If you will thank God for all things, you will be filled with God’s power. Many people say to God, “I have prayed and fasted; I give tithe and offering, but it was all in vain: I do not have a job, a car; I have poor health and many other problems”. Such thinking makes life sad and robs a person of strength. God does not bless discontentment and murmuring. If you want to make your life miserable, then go ahead and start murmuring, complaining and being discontent. So what should we do? God wants us to say, “Thank You, Father, for the things I have today. It is not everything I need, but I thank You for what I do have”. Is there anything in your life you can thank God for? Can you lift up your eyes to heaven and say just like Jesus said, «Thank You, Lord, for what You have given me! »? We must always and in everything give thanks to God! May God abundantly bless every one of you! Pastor Rufus Ajiboye