Thankfulness in Colossians

Paul may be the best example of thankfulness we have from Scripture. Throughout many of his letters, he encourages believers to be thankful and rejoice. In Colossians, being thankful is mentioned at least once in chapters one, two, and four, and three times in chapter three. He also uses the word rejoice several times, which in the Greek, has a similar root to the word for thanksgiving. In this very Christ-focused letter, Paul observes how much there is to be thankful for in the life that is raised with Christ, even though Paul himself was in chains while writing it.

1. Giving Thanks for Fellow Believers

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. (Colossians 1:3-5a ESV)

Paul writes that he and those with him thank God when they pray for the believers in Colossae. What Paul is thankful for is their faith in Christ which shows in their love for fellow believers as it springs forth from the hope of the promises awaiting them in heaven. As believers, we are to look for things to be thankful for in each other’s lives. We are to be encouraged by what God is doing in the lives of fellow believers which results in thanksgiving! If we aren’t thankful in what God is doing in others lives, it can be easy to become discontent when we see fellow believers’ faith shining while we feel unhappy with where we are (physically, spiritually, etc.). Paul easily could have felt stuck and useless in prison, but instead, he took that opportunity to not only give thanks for what God was doing in His life and those at Colossae but to also share the gospel with those who held him captive (Phil. 1:12-13).

Paul writes elsewhere about how we should pray not only for fellow believers, but all people:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)

As he does in Colossians, Paul states how we should always include thanksgiving in our prayers for people. Our prayers aren’t just to be asking for needs to be met, but also include thanking God for what He is doing in other people’s lives.

Paul gives a great example of what a prayer for fellow believers can look like in Colossians 1:9-12:

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12 ESV)

As believers, we need to be praying for others, that they would seek the Lord, and we need to give thanks for what God has done and is doing in their lives!

2. Thankfulness Abounding From Believers

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7 ESV)

These verses serve as an important transition in the letter. These verses conclude Paul’s section on Christ’s preeminence and how Paul has struggled so that those in Colossae might have a firm faith in the sovereign Christ. Because of this, Paul urges them to walk in Christ (reflect Christ's character). Paul points out the importance of having a strong foundation in Christ which makes sense if we are going to walk in Him. But what does thanksgiving have to do with walking in Christ?

Thankfulness is an appropriate and expected response to all the things Paul just went over about Christ's preeminence, which can be summed up best in Colossians 1:19-22:

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Colossians 1:19-22 ESV)

Christ, the one over all, reconciled this broken world to Himself, making peace by His blood so that we could be presented as holy, blameless, and above reproach before Him, resulting in a living hope for those who put their faith in Him! The reality of this hope established in sincere faith should result in overflowing thankfulness in our lives as we walk in Christ. The preeminent Christ is deserving of our praise and thanksgiving!

Sincere thankfulness also helps remind us of the truth of who God is. Colossians 2:8 through the end of chapter warns believers of being ensnared by heresy, philosophies, and empty deceit. The church in Colossae was facing some false teachings, likely combining Judaism and Gnosticism. If in thankfulness, one stays rooted in Christ, established in the faith, reminding oneself of the truth, it will be easier to spot these false gospels that try to lead believers astray. These temptations and false teachings that continue to this day, will also be less appealing because you are content in your thankfulness to Christ.

3. The New Self: A Thankful Creature

Colossians 3 is a beautiful section urging the believer to put on Christ's characteristics. Three times in the section where Paul describes what putting on Christ looks like, he mentions thankfulness. Verses 12-14 lists several attributes we are to put on as God’s children, culminating with unifying love. In order to put on all these attributes, we need to put off their earthly counterparts mentioned in verses 5-11, and also follow what Paul exhorts us to do in verses 15-17, which are all bathed in thanksgiving.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossian 3:15 ESV)

In verse 15, Paul says we must submit to the governance of Christ’s peace in our hearts. Remember, before Christ reconciled us, we were alienated and hostile in mind (1:21-22)—in other words, enemies of God. But Christ’s blood brought reconciliation to those who believe and we must allow Christ’s peace to rule in our hearts and minds to avoid living in condemnation. Christ’s peace brings harmony and unity between us and God as well as fellow believers. A thankful heart plays an important part in preserving this peace. In Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse, he states:

“To preserve in us this peaceable disposition, we must be thankful. The work of thanksgiving to God is such a sweet and pleasant work that it will help to make us sweet and pleasant towards all men. ‘Instead of envying one another upon account of any particular favours and excellence, be thankful for his mercies, which are common to all of you.’”

Thankfulness reminds us of the goodness Christ has given to all believers and should help us in our love for one another. A thankful heart helps uphold Christ’s unifying peace in our hearts.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

In verse 16, Paul says a thankful heart is needed in order to properly meditate on the Word of Christ as well as in corporate teaching and worship. As Christians, we know we should dwell on God’s Word and spend time teaching and encouraging believers, but we must do it with a heart of thankfulness to God. The Greek word for thankfulness in this verse is charis, which is often translated grace and is often associated with the joy and thankfulness that a believer has when he experiences God’s unmerited favor (grace). Charis is also a root of other Greek words for thankfulness and joy which connects all these aspects of the blessing found in Christ's grace to us. How we spend our time in God’s word and with other believers should be done with a heart of joyful thankfulness to God!

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 ESV)

If twice wasn’t enough, Paul really brings it home in verse 17 by saying that in whatever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, with (you guessed it) giving thanks to God through Christ. In everything we do, do it in Jesus’ name with thankfulness. We have put on Christ in everything and in everything we are to give thanks!

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18ESV).

It is God’s will and pleasure that we rejoice, rely on Him in prayer, and continue to give thanks in all circumstances. It’s also important to note that we are to give thanks to God through Christ. If we try to give thanks in our own power, it will come up empty. In whatever we do, we must do it in and through Christ, especially by allowing Him to mediate our prayers and thanksgiving.

4. Guard Your Prayers with Watchfulness and Thanksgiving

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2 ESV)

As Paul begins to bring his letter to a close, he once again encourages those in Colossae to continue in prayer with watchfulness and thanksgiving. Remember, Paul had addressed some of the false teachings the church at Colossae was coming up against. In order for us not to fall for false teachings or temptations of the flesh, we must keep in steadfast prayer and thanksgiving, reminding ourselves of who Jesus is and what He has done in our lives. The enemy still uses temptations and false teachings to try to cause believers to stray away from a sincere faith. We must combat this in prayer with thanksgiving.

So what if I don’t feel thankful?

We live in a broken world. It can be easy to feel discouraged by the sin, brokenness, and loss we see and experience. During holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are rightly encouraged to be thankful and filled with joy, but sometimes they are reminders of loss as well, reminders of family and friends who are no longer with us or who have abandoned us. Surrounded by brokenness, a thankful heart seems impossible to have. Because of Christ’s blood, we are not of this world and are found in the one who has overcome the world! We have the promises of sharing new life in Christ’s resurrection and the inheritance of blessings that Christ has given us. Remind yourself of the gospel! Take time everyday to thank Jesus for His work of reconciliation! Thank God for the work He is doing in your life and others around you! Remember, thanksgiving must be done through Christ (Col. 3:17). Ask God through Christ to help you not only pray, but live with a heart of thankfulness.

Prayer doesn’t always come easy, but it is important and rewarding. In the book, Power Through Prayer, E.M. Bounds describes the work of prayer:

"Praying is spiritual work; and human nature does not like taxing, spiritual work. Human nature wants to sail to heaven under a favoring breeze, a full smooth sea. Prayer is humbling work. It abases intellect and pride, crucifies vainglory, and signs our spiritual bankruptcy, and all these are hard for flesh and blood to bear. It is easier not to pray than to bear them."

While this refers to prayer as a whole, thanksgiving is definitely part of our prayer lives. Allow your prayers of thanksgiving to humble you, leading you to rely on Christ, putting Him first in your life. In times of blessing, make sure to have a thankful heart towards the Lord. In times of despair, remind yourself of what God has done and what Christ’s blood has accomplished in your life!

Conclusion

Throughout Paul’s letters, in whatever circumstance he found himself in, he made it a point to show by example how to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances. Is it easy? Not always. Paul talks about how he and Epaphras suffered and struggled in prayer for those in Colossae (Col. 1:24, 29, 2:1, 4:12-13). Struggling steadfastly as to the Lord is not easy, but we shouldn't avoid it. In fact, the fruit produced from working as to the Lord is unimaginable. Since the spiritual work of thanksgiving is part of God’s will in how we are to live for Him, then through Christ’s grace we can and need to be thankful!

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Works Cited

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) ESV Text Edition: 2016

© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Colossians 3." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar, 1996. Web. 10 Nov, 2023. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Col/Col_003.cfm>.

"G5485 - charis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (esv)." Blue Letter Bible. Web. 10 Nov, 2023. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5485/esv/mgnt/0-2/#lexResults>.

Bounds, E. M. “How to Get Results for God.” Power Through Prayer, Moody Publishers, 2009, p. 45.