So here we are on the cusp of another holiday season. And we’ve all been hearing about the supply chain issues the country is experiencing. You may have even experienced it yourself. Bare store shelves harbor ominous implications for the holidays this year according to experts. Well I have good news for you: the holidays will go on as scheduled this year! The reason I know is that I was personally contacted by Santa’s Workshop and in fact I sold them some plastic buckles so I know they are still in operation and preparing for the holidays so take heart! I even have their credit card number! Think about that for a minute, what must the credit limit be on Santa’s Workshop’s credit card? Probably pretty high!
But here is the biggest surprise, and why I’m sure we will have a normal Christmas in the USA this year; if you asked 100 people where Santa’s Workshop is located you would probably get 100 answers of The North Pole which under today’s conditions would be a logistical nightmare. But that’s not the case, it is located in Cascade Colorado! So when the cable news shows dozens of ships stacked up off the coast laden with shipping containers don’t give it a second thought! Everything is domestic at the REAL Santa’s Workshop. So that’s one thing to be thankful for as we head into Thanksgiving.
Its funny how we connect material things with Thanksgiving, at least from the buying end. Thanksgiving usually brings up thoughts of Black Friday shopping, sales, and an onslaught of TV ads bombarding us with messages about how our holidays somehow won’t be complete without us buying the perfect gift for someone and they just happen to have a solution to that dilemma.
But Paul tells the people at the church at Corinth:
Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. So two good things happen as a result of your gifts—those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God. Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you. Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words. 1 Corinthian 9:11-15TLB
Paul probably didn’t run this by an ad agency on 5th Avenue but WOW, what an idea. True Thanksgiving is not about what we have or can acquire but it’s about what we can give away!? Sort of counterintuitive, at least as far as our culture is concerned. But this is the key piece here, “they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine.”
Are my deeds as good as my doctrine? Does my life demonstrate that? Maybe that’s something I need to ponder as I enter this season of Thanksgiving.
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