Overflowing Thanksgiving

Overflowing Thanksgiving

An old church in England has an unusual stone carving in its apse: a goblet so full that it overflows, the excess running down the sides and pooling at the base. The craftsman is not known. The image was installed in the fourteenth century, probably as an illustration of Psalm 23:5's 'my cup runneth over.' The overflow is the key: a cup that is merely full has received enough. A cup that overflows has received more than enough and has something to give. Colossians 2:7 uses the same imagery for thanksgiving: not just present, not just adequate, but overflowing — more than the person can contain, spilling into their surroundings.

Colossians 2:7 describes the result of being rooted in Christ, built up in Him, and strengthened in faith: an overflowing thanksgiving. The thanksgiving is not the cause of the rooting and building; it is the fruit. The tree that is deeply rooted produces fruit in abundance. The building that is well constructed can bear significant weight. And the life deeply rooted in Christ and built up in faith produces thanksgiving that cannot be contained. This is the distinguishing quality of the mature Christian life: not impressive religious achievement or theological sophistication but an overflow of gratitude that permeates everything. How full is your cup?