ENORMOUS BLESSINGS CONTINUE TO FLOW FROM GOD
We in the USA love Thanksgiving Day and there has never been a pagan overtone to it. It is very simple: Thanksgiving is about GIVING thanks to God. That may explain in part why it is minimized in our culture and hidden in education.
The history of the creation of Thanksgiving is surprising and not well-known. George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison all tried to set aside a National Day of Thanksgiving. However, official Thanksgiving Day came in 1863, after President Lincoln observed the tragedy of Gettysburg. The largest battle and most decisive ever fought on the North American continent. He wrote in, 1863:
“The year has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. [Instead of declining materially, the economy and population actually grew during the war. What a surprise and a blessing!] To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watching providence of Almighty God.”
Nehemiah 12:27, “And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.” (KJV)
Lincoln continued, “And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union.”
THE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS OF THE TRUE FIRST THANKSGIVING
Schools used to teach that the pilgrims were close to starvation until the natives saved them and they learned to plant maize and farm. Then they managed to survive to celebrate their bountiful crop thanks only to the native population. This is at best an over simplification and more likely a cover up of key facts. The Plymouth colony had written into its charter a system of communal property and labor. Everything was owned by the community equally. There was no incentive to work hard as William Bradford recorded. The people who had been known for their virtue and hard work became lazy and unproductive.
Proverbs 6:9-11, “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber...11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” (NKJV)
2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
Bradford realized that the Bible taught against the “free rider” problem and laziness and actually supported capitalism. Resources were no longer squandered, and near mass starvation ended with prosperity. They and the native peoples helped each other for prosperity and mutual defense. After 2 1/2 years, the colony decided to abandon their socialist model and create a system which honored private property (eighth commandment, Exodus 20:15, “You shall not steal.”).
Now that individuals owned something and had incentive to work hard, they traded with the Wampanoag tribes and with England to gain wealth. The colony thrived and the abundance which resulted was what was celebrated at that iconic Thanksgiving feast in 1622. They feasted for 3 days!
In a nutshell, the experiment with socialism – collectivism – had to be abandoned in order for the first Thanksgiving to take place. Funny how we were never taught that in school. After they applied the biblical principals of hard work and respecting private property they were blessed. The Puritan founders were very RELIGIOUS.
IS OUR NATION TURNING AWAY FROM GODLY PRINCIPLES ?
It appears that about half this nation is turning away from biblical principles and toward communist-type socialism which never works. Throughout the Bible, Israel repeatedly abandoned God’s teachings and principals.
The recent New York mayoral election indicates the gullibility of much of the public. They HAVE LOW BIBLE I.Q. and are miseducated regarding the real Pilgrims. Some are embracing socialism, greed, covetousness (i.e., free stuff). I believe we are beginning to understand how Jeremiah felt. Many are now headed on the same path of destruction. Jeremiah warned:
Lamentations 3:39-40, “Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD;”
2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
This is what we all want, except for anarchists. This can better be achieved if we are thankful to God. Really, observing Thanksgiving is good for us, just as it was in 1622 and 1863.
Actions which automatically work are called laws. They cannot be denied. Gravity is a law, so is thankfulness. The first law is that “Spiritual blessings come to those who are thankful”. Therefore it is assumed that law number two is the converse: “ Spiritual Decadence comes with LACK OF thankfulness or ingratitude.”
Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God;”
2 Timothy 3:1-3, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL…” (NKJV)
The value of thankfulness is inviolable, although not a Holy Sabbath, it is advantageous to always be thankful for blessings individually and nationally and keep thanksgiving.
