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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November 1924
C o n t r i b u t e d A r t i c l e s
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Thanksgiving By Dr. John Murdoch Maclnnis, Teacher of the “Philosophy of the Christian Religion” Bihle Institute of Bos Angeles, California
■ HANKSGIVING DAY is one of the most character istically American of all the days found on our national calendar of special days. Our fathers followed the logic of the essential life of the there can be little doubt that in its origin, constitution and history it is Christian. It was conceived and brought forth in the travail of a Christian life— our Supreme Court rec ognizes this. In the light of this fact it is highly fitting that we should have at least one day that sets forth the fact in an official way—our annual Thanksgiving Day does this thing. First, it officially recognizes God as a reality, and as one with whom we have to do in a living and vital way. Second, it recognizes Him as the source of the good things we enjoy—-we acknowledge Him as the Giver of the fruits of land and sea as well as the Giver of health and liberty. Practically every national Thanksgiving Proclama tion recognizes our dependence upon God for protection and guidance. How Shall We Give Thanks? As we are thus once more challenged to recognize these facts, how shall we appropriately thank Him for His good ness? If what we have noted means anything, it is cer tainly clear that a mere national holiday is not enough in the way of thanksgiving. What then ,shall we render unto Him for-His benefits?, This was the Psalmist’s question, and his answer to it is striking and full of challenge. It contains three things worthy of our careful attention as we try to answer the question for ourselves. (Psalm 116.) First, I will thank God by accepting more from Him— “ I will take— ” “What shall I render?” “ I will take.” At first thought this surely seems a strange and selfish answer. He had been getting all his life and now he says he will thank God by taking more. On closer thought, however, we discover that nothing could be more fundamentally acceptable than this very form of thanksgiving. How can we best thank mother for all she puts into the Thanks giving dinner for our comfort and pleasure? By eating it. There is no use saying “ thank you” if we refuse to partake of what she has prepared. The Psalmist saw this in his relation with God and he determined to show his appreciation of all God did for him by taking the cup of salvation. That meant the accept ing of God’s will for him. Salvation means a saving from sin and a saving to the will of God. For the nation this would mean the acceptance of the challenge of its destiny. In order to do this it must be freed from the sin, greed and selfishness that are throttling its life. Nothing but the redeeming action of God can do this. But God can save from sin and it is His desire that we should accept this salvation. Nothing can give Him greater joy. There is joy in heaven over one "sinner that repents and gives God a
chance to save him from sin. Just think of what the turn ing of a nation would mean to Him. But the acceptance of the cup of salvation means more than being saved from sin. It means to be saved into a positive life in God’s will. That life is a life of service. God has given us a wonderful heritage in land, people and history. These riches of life and material things are given for a purpose. This purpose cannot possibly be to use them on our own selfish interests. God’s method is to bless in order that we may be a blessing. It is only the life and power of God that can make this blessed life of help fulness and service possible. Put Godl First The second thing the Psalmist determined to do was to call upon the name of the Lord. That is to put God first in his life. He understood that there is salvation in no other name and he honored the name. If America is going to be saved she must honor the name which is above every name. In other words, she must put God first in her life. It is only by seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness that we can be first in the life and service of the world. To ignore this fundamental fact is to go the way of all other world powers and to mingle the ashes of our failure with those of Egypt, Babylonia, Greece and Rome. Third, “ I will pay my vows unto the Lord.” This comes third, not first. He could not pay his vows until first he ■&as saved and had given God first place in his life. What a wonderful Thanksgiving this would be if this nation were to "determine to pay its vows unto the Lord! We hear a great deal about honest national debts in our day. The whole world is in danger of being thrown into the furnace of another war because some of the nations are not willing to pay their vows. What about our vows? We are a nation with solemn vows. The nation had its birth in the vows of God-fearing men who sought the will of God. Are we paying the vows taken and signed by the Pilgrim Fathers in the cabin of the Mayflower? Their vows were not selfish, but essen tially Christian. They sought primarily not a place to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience, but a place for the founding of a Commonwealth that would help the extension of the Kingdom of God in the earth. They wanted to share the life that they knew with the rest of the world. We believe God took note of these vows and has not forgotten them through the years of our history. Have we remembered them? Are America’s life and wealth at the disposal of God for the redeeming of the vows that made America possible? The redeeming of that Pilgrim’s vow would mean the saving of the nation from failure and utter ruin. Oh, that the nation on this Thanksgiving Day might make glad the heart of God by sincerely saying, “ I will pay my vows unto the Lord!,”
nation when they appointed it. While we may not be realiz ing the ideal in the practical, every-day life of the nation,
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