The Importance of Thanks

Nehemiah 12:27 (ESV) And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

More and more I see great lessons on building the house of God in the book of Nehemiah. Here in chapter 12, as the people inhabit the city and the work is dedicated, there is a commission on his part to make certain the people are deliberately GIVING THANKS on a regular basis.

Nehemiah 12:31 (ESV) Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.

Nehemiah 12:38 (ESV) The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,

Now you think of this. Nehemiah appoints not one but two choirs to give thanks. One goes to the south at the gate there and the other to the north at the gate there. Nehemiah wanted thanksgiving to come from both directions to make sure the people were reminded of what God had done to bring them to this place. 

Later in the chapter, the choirs join Nehemiah and the officials in the house of God to sing and praise. And the result speaks for itself:

Nehemiah 12:43 (ESV) And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

I love this. Because it speaks to the values of vision. Business leaders will talk about how important it is to have a 5 point plan or a visionary spirit or entrepreneurial attitude. Those things are important. But in the cause of God, there is something profoundly important in giving thanks for what He has done. If the house of the Lord wants to be strong against those who assail and attack her, let them be people of thanksgiving!

What does thanksgiving do? Several important things. 

First, it reminds us that we are not self-made. This is vitally important in our prideful age. No one is an island. Everyone has something or someone behind them helping them become what they are. And most of all, we ALL are the creations of God. 

Second, it reminds us of the good in our lives. Think of the news, what travels fast in reality? Bad news, the outrageous thing some stranger did who you would have never heard of if it had not been for our inclination to spread bad news far and wide. But thanksgiving breaks the constant stream of what's bad in our minds reminding us of what is good. 

Third, it resounds to those around us. Thankful people are not takers, they are givers. Why? Because they know their belongings are from another source, therefore, they have the confidence to live open-handed because God will always supply them with more. 

Fourth, it directs our hearts toward God. He is the origin of every good and perfect gift. 

James 1:17 (ESV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Take time to thank the Lord. Border your life with thanksgiving. Your heart will be lifted and your life will be full.