Thanksgiving—the Antidote for Greed

Thanksgiving Day is increasingly overshadowed by the day following it: Black Friday. But thanksgiving is actually an antidote for what Black Friday represents.

On the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving, my coworkers came into the office, one by one, reporting that there were people already sleeping outside Best Buy! It was actually a frigid day, so why were these people camped out at this store?

Those in the United States will recognize this as the week leading up to Black Friday, the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday.

Each year die-hard shoppers map out their strategy to get the best deals and the biggest bargains. They sleep outside stores so they can be the first in line and not miss out on the limited supplies of “hot” bargains available when the stores open on Friday.

In fact, the stores make so much money from Black Friday shoppers that they are constantly trying to figure out new ways to maximize their profits. Thanksgiving used to be one of the few days in the year when all retail stores closed, allowing the employees to celebrate the day with their families. That is no longer the case. Many stores now open in the late afternoon or in the evening because there is so much money to be made.

Greed

What does greed have to do with Thanksgiving Day? If you think about that question for just a moment, it is evident that the two are opposites!

Black Friday is all about seeing how much we can get, for as little money as possible. For retailers, it’s about seeing how much profit they can get by maximizing their sales and hours of operation. Material things are becoming the priority while giving thanks at Thanksgiving is becoming an afterthought!

Greed is defined as an “excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.” Is there anything positive about this? God’s Word actually has a lot to say on the subject. The Bible states that in the end times “men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful” (2 Timothy 3:2). The Bible does not paint a positive picture of greed.

When we focus on what we want, while often complaining about what we don’t have, we may be guilty of greed. If we are thankful for what we have, our focus is drawn away from that desire for the next “thing” and onto the blessings we have been given.

Thankfulness

God does tell us to come to Him with our requests: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). He also promises to supply our every need: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

When we are thankful for our blessings, we will naturally focus more on Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” What are some of the ways we can practice this biblical admonition?

• Do our own family members have needs?
• Could someone we know use help with yard work or home maintenance?
• Might we offer to babysit for a few hours so a couple with young children could enjoy a date night? 

If you are having a hard time finding someone you know who needs your help, consider volunteer work. Most communities have organizations that rely on volunteers. Or maybe you enjoy visiting with elderly people. Consider a nursing home or even a hospice center. Most have volunteer programs and are happy to add someone who would like to help!

There should be no room for greed on Thanksgiving Day. When we are truly thankful, we think of others instead of ourselves and show our thankfulness by our actions. Remember, Thanksgiving is about the blessings God has given us and not about the things we lack.

For further insight into Thanksgiving, read:

Is Thanksgiving Being Replaced?

Don’t Forget Thanksgiving!