Thank God
A friend recently thanked me for something I'd done for others. I got offended, and then confused. About two hours later, I realized why I was upset: I hadn't done it for them. I'd done it for God. But when they thanked me, it suggested they were supervising my good deeds. I knew they were sincerely encouraging me, but it still felt weird. The conversation left me wondering: when it comes to our faith, who are we supposed to thank?
A Christian website maintains a list of the largest and fastest growing churches in America. The name of the church and its senior pastor are provided on a ranked leaderboard, numbered 1-100. Perhaps it shows us where God is working, or maybe it reveals the limits of effective marketing to build large organizations. As he writes to the saints in Rome, Paul's first priority is to disclose that he thanks God for them. He doesn't thank them but God. Their dedication to God is not about him or them. He's not saying "great job!" or "congratulations!" or "you're growing faster than the church in Philippi." It's not flattery, but an intimate, almost awkward sharing of how Paul has been praying. When Paul sees God at work, he thanks God, and tells them. Their faith prompts him to pray. Gratitude is unappreciated. "Thank you" is almost a cliché. It's background noise. But when social science researchers study gratitude, they find that it is a crucial element of healthy relationships (see Sara Algoe's work in particular). When it is sincerely felt and honestly shared, gratitude helps us identify the people who care about us, motivates us to care for them, and builds warm, trusting connections. Paul knows that ingratitude to God and each other results in social dysfunction (Romans 1:21-23). Paul built strong relationships because he told his friends he thanked God for the spiritual vitality he saw in them. Paul doesn't thank "God" in a generic sense. He thanks God through Jesus Christ. He has access to God because of Jesus. As Paul explained to the pastor Timothy, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). In his prayer life, we get a glimpse into how the first Christians understood God as one and Jesus as God. By telling us how he prays, Paul is showing us how to pray. At the start of his letter, Paul says that their faith is being reported. At the end of the letter, he says the report of their obedience has reached everyone (16:19). What the early church is talking about is not their numbers but the way their commitment to God has transformed how they live. It's evident to everyone that the church in Rome is living like Jesus is Lord. That's a good reason to thank God.
What's the difference between "thank God" and "thank you"?
If someone ranked churches by their faith instead of their numbers, what would they need to measure?
Who do you thank God for?
Next time you're with a friend, tell them one specific thing about their character that you have thanked God for.