For Charles Spurgeon, life was to be lived coram Deo, “in the presence of God.” Indeed, Spurgeon believed that “no joy is like the joy of Christ’s presence with his people.” A presence sweet enough to “[drown] every note of sorrow” and tune every heart “to the loudest notes of thankfulness.”
Spurgeon believed it was “a heavenly thing to be thankful.” After all, it was gratitude which “ought to teach us the divine object of grace.” Accordingly, he longed for his heart to burn with the “sacred flame of thankfulness.”
For the world being happy was a prerequisite to being grateful, but Spurgeon knew that “God’s people are always happy when they are grateful” to Him. In fact, Spurgeon was so certain he said, “We should be ten times more full of bliss if we were proportionately more full of thankfulness.”
For Spurgeon, living with thankfulness was an all-encompassing commitment. Whether for richer or for poorer, even in sickness and in health. Indeed, he would often remind his congregation that “you have received all you have from God the Father through Christ.” This truth made every enjoyment an avenue for God glorifying gratitude.
Thus, in all “our eating, our drinking,” and “social meetings” Spurgeon claimed “we should give thanks unto God the Father.” The same “Father of Lights” from whom all blessings did, and do, indeed flow.
But gracious gratitude was not to be limited by the circumstances of this life. To make his point Spurgeon reminded his congregation of the story of a poor “godly preacher,” who one evening could only offer his children a dinner consisting of “a potato and a herring.” Nonetheless, the preacher “thanked God that he had ransacked sea and land to find food for his children.” Truly, the God who fed the sparrows and the ravens would not forget his people.
Indeed, while God’s temporal provision was a sweet blessing, his eternal provision of salvation through Jesus Christ was beyond comparison. Even after pastoring for many years, Spurgeon still marveled that “God should condescend to make a covenant with man, and ordain faith in Jesus as the great way of obtaining reconciliation.”
Spurgeon believed that the substitutionary, penal, atoning death of Christ on the cross provided Christians cause for “daily adoration and hourly thankfulness.” In Spurgeon’s view, “since Jesus has loved us so well,” it was impossible not to “give to him all that we are, and all that we have.” As a result, Spurgeon challenged his church to “let your gratitude compel you to do everything for Jesus.”
There is much in life for which to be thankful. Family, friends, food, and the changing color of the fall leaves are sweet gifts to be savoured and enjoyed. But, the best gift to be thankful for is Jesus Christ. This Thanksgiving Spurgeon would have us contemplate Christ and let Christ “flood the whole of [our] faculties” with thankfulness.
From all of us at The Spurgeon Library, Blessed Thanksgiving!
Phillip Ort, Director of The Spurgeon Library
Source: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/giving-thanks-with-charles-haddon-spurgeon/
A Short Biography of Charles Spurgeon: The Life and Times of Charles H. Spurgeon
I know I’m a bit early here but I haven’t posted for quite some time. I do have posts backed up so I hope to be more active in the near future.
May God bless each of you this Thanksgiving as we think of our great God and His amazing love.
Chris Reimers
Wings of the Wind 
Many thanks for sharing this wonderful message of Spurgeon’s concerning thankfulness, Chris. I am forever grateful for what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me. Where would we be if He had never given Himself for us? Surely the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind…
You’re welcome, Elizabeth.
It is never surprising to me to see such thankfulness expressed in so many parts of the world. As doctrinal truths appear to be waning in our times I am particularly thankful for people like you, in other countries like Ireland, who sincerely believe that we must never compromise the truth as contained in God’s Word, the Bible.
Like you I’m aware that some may feel that matters of a doctrinal nature are often too controversial and should be avoided at all costs (from the “about” on your blog). I appreciate your willingness to write about such matters.
Your question “Where would we be?” without Christ is a good one.
Thank you for your comment and may God bless your day!
Many thanks Chris and trusting you have a blessed day too. Also a blessed Thanksgiving.
You’re welcome and thank you as well, Elizabeth. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving as well!
Thanks for this post about being thankful to God! Yes, when we contemplate our salvation in Jesus Christ, we are overjoyed.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Chris!
You’re welcome, Tom, and thank you for your comment!
By the grace of God, I have experienced the joy that you mention. He will never leave us or forsake us. Praise God!
I appreciate your kind words and I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving as well!
Tank you! That is tru!
Charles Spurgeon is one of my favorite preachers
I understand why. His sermons and other writings have been a blessing to me as well. I have not yet been able to find a preacher of the Gospel who has a better grasp of the English language. His “Treasury of David” is my favorite commentary.
It is a wonder that people of all ages, occupations, and social status were drawn to Mr. Spurgeon. At the same time, I understand the reasons behind this. Years ago, I remember searching a huge book store for something helpful when I stumbled upon the oldest looking book of the lot. At that time I had not heard of Charles Spurgeon but after reading several pages of that old book by him I was forever grateful for my discovery. His arrangement of words interspersed with scripture throughout left its mark. Since then, I have become aware of his great contribution and how God used his talents to help the body of Christ.
Here is a bit from one of my favorite sermons of his:
What a difference there is between the words of Christ, and those of all mere men! Most men speak many words, yet say but little; Christ speaks few words, yet says very much. In modern books, you may read scores of pages, and scarcely come across a new thought; but when Christ speaks, every syllable seems to tell. He hits the nail on the head each time He lifts the hammer of His Word. The Words of Christ are like ingots of solid gold; we preachers too often beat out the gold so thin, that whole acres of it would scarcely be worth a farthing. The Words of Christ are always to be distinguished from those of His creatures, not only for their absolute truthfulness, but also for their profound fulness of matter. In all His language He is “full of grace and truth.” Look at the text before us. Here we have, in two small sentences, the sum and substance of all theology.
Here is the link to that sermon if you are interested: https://archive.spurgeon.org/sermons/sum&sub.php
Thank you for your comment and may God bless your day.
Indeed there’s power in gratitude, when we are thankful we create the avenue to have more of the things we are thankful for.
I appreciate your comment, samuel39. I wish you a blessed day!
Great blog, I hadn’t really read much on Charles Spurgeon, but lately I keep getting suggestions to look into it.
Thank you for your kind words.
If you want to find a place to read some Spurgeon, here is a good website:
https://archive.spurgeon.org/mainpage.php
God’s blessings…
Being thankful is one way to encouraging God’s blessings in our lives. Thanks so much for sharing this.
You’re welcome, hephzibah, and thank you for your kind comment.
💚
Being thankful helps the well-being wonderfully and there is so much to be thankful for, thankfull that god said ask and you shall receive, för example, what a wonderfully gift! Thankfull that you wake up every morning thankfull for this beautiful garden, and all what it is to be a humanbeing, thank you lord!
Hi emyisme and welcome to the Wings of the Wind!
Indeed, being thankful for all that God has done for us is a response that all Christians can understand. What a blessing that God has given us His gifts of love, joy, and peace.
This is the time of year when we think of our Savior’s birth. He was the greatest gift ever given.
I appreciate your comment and wish you God’s blessings…
Chris