There is something ironic about the fact that "Black Friday" (so named because retailers hope to get into the black, which is to say, make a profit) follows on the heels of Thanksgiving, a day set aside for expressions of gratitude. Black Friday is the banner day for a consumer culture, the day that retailers look forward to as they anticipate shoppers heading out in droves to purchase the latest must have items.

Now, I say this is ironic because the consumer culture, driven by advertising, thrives on producing discontent, which is the fruit of an ungrateful heart. The singular goal of most advertising is to make consumers discontented until they get a particular product, without which life is not complete. That discontent fuels the consumer culture as shoppers hurry out to buy the newest wares.

Of course there's nothing wrong with giving gifts this time of year... as long as we guard our hearts against ingratitude and discontent.

Labels: Alex Forrest

When you really think about it, thanksgiving ought to be present deep in the core of faith in Christ. A proper understanding of who we are and who God is then leads to a greater understanding of and appreciation for the work of Christ on our behalf. Thus our gratitude increases with our understanding of the Gospel. The close companion of gratitude is, of course, humility, for they both flow from a heart that understands these great truths. (It requires humility to be grateful). So may we grow in humility and gratitude, and may it be rooted in a growing love for the Gospel. Here's a thought from John Piper that will help point us in the right direction:

"When I say that God Is the Gospel I mean that the highest, best, final, decisive good of the gospel, without which no other gifts would be good, is the glory of God in the face of Christ revealed for our everlasting enjoyment. The saving love of God is God's commitment to do everything necessary to enthrall us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying, namely himself. Since we are sinners and have no right and no desire to be enthralled with God, therefore God's love enacted a plan of redemption to provide that right and that desire. The supreme demonstration of God's love was the sending of his Son to die for our sins and to rise again so that sinners might have the right to approach God and might have the pleasure of his presence forever."

- John Piper, God Is the Gospel, 13-14

Reason for Thanksgiving!

Labels: Alex Forrest, Gospel, gratitude, Piper, Thanksgiving