3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
These are pretty strong words of warning: no immorality, no kind of impurity, no idolatry - coveting what we do not have - none of these things in word, in heart, or in deed. Nestled in this nasty list is one thing: Thanksgiving. Do we understand what an antidote thanksgiving is to these things? If we are thankful to God for all He has given, we will not covet anything else instead. Eve and Adam were not satisfied in the garden and their ingratitude led to a whole lot of trouble. If we speak out thanks, there is no room or time for evil speech. If we are thankful for the spouse we have, or trust God for the one He has in our future, there is no room for immorality. It is not so much that thanksgiving is a substitute for these things, but that all these things put together are no substitute for thanksgiving in our lives. Today may we have thankful hearts, speak thankful words, and live thankful lives before Him.
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