What Would Jesus Say at Thanksgiving Dinner?

The Bible sets forth many things that Jesus taught his disciples. But what would Jesus say to us if He joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner?

What Would Jesus Say at Thanksgiving Dinner?

“Keep Your Priorities Right”

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).

As we gather at Thanksgiving dinner, we often take time to talk about the things that we are thankful for. As we do, we should also do some reassessment of our priorities. Are we thankful for the “right” things? Or are we too concerned with the things that the world chases? I think Jesus would remind us that God knows what we need, and He will provide them. We need to keep our focus on God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

And what does that mean? Well, that’s what else Jesus would tell us at Thanksgiving dinner!

“Be kind”

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).  Too often our attitudes are driven by responding to the way people treat us.  Why don’t we take the initiative and treat them well first? We’re all familiar with the Golden Rule that Jesus set forth in Matthew 7:12, but this was not just some off-the-cuff comment. Consider that earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus dropped this on us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:43-45).

In contrast to Jesus’ call for us to be kind, and to treat people the way we’d like to be treated, we too often hear: “He started it!” When you read that phrase, you should imagine hearing it in the voice of an eight-year-old, because that will help you recognize the mentality of a revenge mindset. The world says, “Do unto others AS they do unto you” – or even “do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.” At Thanksgiving, Jesus reminds us that God has a different way – a BETTER way. The Apostle Paul also chimes in: “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Share your blessings with others”

I can almost hear Jesus say: “And while we’re talking about being kind to others, let’s be practical about it. Share your blessings with others.” Jesus told two parables to illustrate this. The first involves a man who was blessed, but chose to hoard it all for himself: “And he said, ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’” (Luke 12:18-20).

The second passage gives us the famous phrase, “I was hungry, and you fed me.”  Think about that: the way we treat others is a reflection of how we treat Jesus! In this parable (Matthew 25:31-46), both groups of people understood that if they saw Jesus hungry, thirsty, etc., they should minister to Him. What they didn’t understand was that the way they treated others in need was a direct reflection on how they would treat Him. They both asked, “When did we see you hungry?” “To the extent that you did it for the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me” (Matthew 25:40; see also 25:45).

So as we’re sitting around a big table full of food, Jesus reminds us to share our blessings with others!

“Relax a little”

It would be easy for us to think about the parable of the rich fool and think, “Well, I guess I’ll just keep working. Work, work, work! After all, that man thought he was going to sit back and enjoy his goods. ‘Relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’  Nope! Can’t do that!”

I think Jesus would remind us that it’s good to relax a little. After all, God gave us the Sabbath day to build rest into our routine on a weekly basis. Working every day without stop is a sign of slavery; God gave us the Sabbath as a way to demonstrate our trust in Him, rather than our own efforts.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Come to Me, and I will give you rest. As you’re giving thanks for God’s blessings, don’t forget the blessing of rest. Don’t get caught up in the race of chasing stuff; learn to relax a little.

“Love God and each other”

The last thing I think Jesus would tell us would be to love God and each other. After all, how could Jesus omit the greatest commandments?

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him: ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:35-40).

In Luke’s Gospel, a similar encounter had the questioner ask Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responded by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). What did it mean to be a neighbor? To show compassion to those in need. And I think Jesus would remind us: “If a Samaritan could show compassion to a Jew in need, after all of the animosity between Jews and Samaritans, then you can show compassion too. It doesn’t matter who is in need; all of humankind is your neighbor.”

What Would Jesus Say at Thanksgiving Dinner?

“Keep your priorities right. Be kind. Share your blessings with others. Learn to relax a little. Love each other – and remember that loving God is what enables us to truly love each other. Now, pass that turkey!”