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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Why Boredom is the enemy of thanksgiving

Psalm 136:1 states - "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever". 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

God's goodness - the source of Christian thanksgiving
There is a disease that is circulating in every home that is detrimental to the Christian walk -boredom.   In the above passages, we see that the motivation for thanksgiving is a command to come and behold the goodness of God.  Every event, every circumstance, is a window through which I can discover the goodness of God in all things.  

The link between thanksgiving and God's goodness
It is only by God's grace that we can see His goodness in all things.   The above two passages are commands.  Clearly whenever God commands us to do anything, the command itself will lie outside our ability unaided by grace.   For every command there is always a provision of grace. 

Why true worship and boredom cannot co-exist in the same heart
Even when people are prone to become apathetic and disconnected, there is still ample reason to see God's goodness, however difficult it may be.  (please compare Romans 8:28)
There is one human expression that is never justified in any circumstance - boredom. When we get "bored", we are assuming that there is no good or benefit to be gleaned from the event or situation.  Boredom is the first step, however passive, in refusing to see the goodness of God. It not only is the enemy of thanksgiving, it is the enemy of worship. Boredom's origin is nothing short of idolatry.

How to declare war on boredom
Whenever I get bored, that indicates that there is an area in my heart where I have set up an idol.  Boredom comes as a result of unmet expectations.  That toy, that television, the thanksgiving meal, lose their perceived goodness because I forget and ultimately refuse to acknowledge that all things come from the Lord.  Boredom is what occurs when I expect a created object to bring the same fulfillment as only God can bring.  This is why boredom is the seed of idolatry.  

As we enter into this season of Thanksgiving, lets declare war on boredom.  Lets not lose sight of the goodness of God.  Lets not forget that in all things, give thanks to Him, for this is His will in Christ Jesus concerning you.