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Dearly Beloved, 

 

Thank you, Lord, for taxes. 

“Is that a typo?” you ask. Giving thanks may not be your normal first response to taxes. It’s not mine either. I don’t like paying taxes any more than the next person. But stop and think about who the people in the world are who pay taxes. It’s the haves, not the have-nots. If we pay income taxes, it’s because we have a job or other income. If we pay property taxes, it’s because we own a home.  

Taxes are also a reminder of the many services we are privileged with, like health care, education, and infrastructure. We may wish governments managed finances better, yet we are blessed with services, much of it paid for through the collection of taxes. I don’t know if we need to say, “Thank you, Lord, for taxes.” But may paying taxes be a reminder of our prosperity, and thank the Lord for that. 

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want us to think of the kind of people God wants us to be. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It doesn’t say give thanks for everything (we don’t give thanks for cancer, accidents, and other adversity), but in everything give thanks. 

Bible commentator Matthew Henry illustrates this well. After being robbed, Henry wrote in his diary: “Let me be thankful. First, because I was never robbed before. Second, because although they took my wallet, they did not take my life. Third, because although they took my all, it was not much. Fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” In spite of his trouble, Henry found reasons to express gratitude. 

Psalm 103 begins, Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. The Psalmist goes on to list many benefits including forgiveness, healing, love, and compassion. It’s a great Psalm to read at Thanksgiving. I encourage you this weekend to take a few minutes to make your own list of benefits.  

As you think about things to be grateful for, you may want to put toilets on your list. I came across an article from SIM (Serving in Mission), called, “The Porcelain Privilege.”  

Though we often joke about our toilets being porcelain thrones, for many people they really would be. India is a country of one billion people – only 20% of those people have access to safe sanitation. The other 80% would probably be happy to have a nearby hole in the ground. 

For women, going to the bathroom can be fraught with embarrassment, pain, and danger. Every morning thousands of Indian women get up while it is still dark to walk to the wada, a designated defecation area, which could be a kilometer or more away. Previously trees and bushes provided some privacy but darkness is the only thing that provides cover now.  . . .  To make the experience worse, there is always the danger of snakes, scorpions, and men, some of whom prey on women using the wada. 

Our porcelain thrones are indeed symbols of wealth, luxury, and comfort. Those of us who have them make up 20% of the world’s population but consume 80% of the world’s resources. The Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi points out that if the poor world were to develop and consume in the same manner as the West, to achieve the same living standards, we would need two additional Planet Earths to produce resources and absorb wastes, and good planets are hard to find! (World Watch, SIM, August 2006) 

We have many economic, spiritual, and other blessings to be thankful for. Being thankful is good for us. When we have an attitude of thanksgiving the people around us may see the goodness of Jesus. And God is honored when we are thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!