A season of thankfulness for God’s bounty

Opinion column

A season of thankfulness for God’s bounty

With many churches holding harvest festivals at this time of year, Matthew Price is urging us to be grateful for all the good things that God has provided for us

We are privileged to live in a beautiful part of the world – the Norfolk Broads, stunning coastlines above, beautiful villages and towns and, of course, the fine city that is Norwich. Norfolk has so much to offer us
 
And, as I look around and contemplate our surroundings myself, I am reminded of Paul (the Apostle)’s message to the young leader, Timothy, that “God… richly provides us with every-thing for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17 and following)
 
But, I wonder, is that what we really think? That God gives us everything for our enjoyment?! Maybe, if we are tempted to think that he is either utterly disengaged with our world or that his main interest is in rules; don’t touch this, don’t do that, make sure you behave in the right way; we might doubt that God has any interest in us having fun
 
Paul’s words challenge that view. God gives us the good things we see in our world for our enjoyment. He wants us to enjoy his good gifts.  God wants us to have fun.  There is so much good around us - let’s make sure we enjoy it
 
Perhaps one of our challenges is that, because we live here, we end up taking for granted the wonderful things we have around us.  And that was also the danger for Timothy’s generation. So, Paul also warned them “not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God”.  It seems they were so busy enjoying the gifts that they’d forgotten about the giver, the provider, the host of the world’s great party.  Maybe there’s something in those words for our generation too?
 
In the church’s calendar, harvest-time is an opportunity to notice the good gifts that God gives us and express our thanks to Him for them. If they’ve not celebrated it already, I suspect many churches around the county will be doing just that as they hold harvest festival services
 
And one of the ways that we can express our thanks to God for all that he has given us, is by remembering those that are less fortunate than ourselves. So, many harvest services will include an opportunity to donate food which will then be distributed to those in need via foodbanks and community larders
 
Perhaps this month might be an opportunity for each of us to pause, give thanks for all the good things that we have and also to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves
 
The image of the North Norfolk coast west of Sheringham is courtesy of Tony Rothe.

The Revd Matthew Price is Vicar at St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston and the Bishop of Norwich’s Adviser for Urban and Estates Ministry