THANKSGIVING TO GOD

Is Mother Nature the giver of all good things? Some just say, ‘We are thankful”, choosing to leave out God and not give Him due credit. The Bible says, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” (James 1:17, 18)  God gives all good things, even salvation, by His initiative.

WHAT IS THANKSGIVING?

Thanksgiving is acknowledging God’s goodness and expressing gratitude to Him.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” - Cicero.

“Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” – Harry Ironside. 

“Thanksgiving Day comes once a year by statute, to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.” – E. S. Martin.

Thanksgiving to God is a virtuous attitude of gratitude. People of God like David in the Bible, practiced and spoke about it repeatedly. God deserves credit as the giver of all good things. In this, He even holds the ungodly accountable for their failure. Not being thankful is an affront to God. Ingratitude causes discontentment and a complaining spirit, which dishonor God. The Bible records how God firmly dealt with His own people, the ungrateful Israelites in the wilderness.

GOD’S VIEW OF INGRATITUDE:

Paul notes that man’s ingratitude resulted in his spiritual downward spiral. They knew God, but chose not to be thankful or glorify Him, thereby becoming worse. (Romans 1:21) “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Jesus classifies ingratitude with evil. “…..and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” (Luke 6: 35)

Jesus once healed ten lepers and only one of them returned to thank Him. Seeing the ingratitude of the nine healed lepers Jesus was disappointed and made this comment.  “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine – where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17, 18)

Paul, writing about the evils of the last days gives this warning. “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy” (II Timothy 3:2)

Here are the Biblical examples of two kings who would not give due credit to God.

Belshazzar, a Babylonian king was judged by God because he did not honor God the Creator. He had instead misused the vessels of God’s temple and exalted man made gods. (Daniel 5:23) “But you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, the God in whose hand are your life-breadth and your ways, you have not glorified.”

Luke records God striking dead King Herod for similar reasons. “And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:23)

GOD DELIGHTS IN THANKSGIVING:

Praise and thanksgiving are part of worship. In praising, God’s glorious greatness is honored. In giving thanks, God’s blessings are acknowledged. He delights in them as spiritual sacrifices.  

Paul says, “In everything gives thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I (Thessalonians 5:18)

All things are to be gratefully received. “…For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude.” (I Timothy 4:4)  

Thanksgiving is a necessary part of praying. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to God.” (Philippians 4: 6)

God savors thanksgiving as spiritual sacrifice. “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Hebrew 13: 15)

In Psalm 50:14, David says, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” In verse 23, God say, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me.”

 Spirit filled persons will, “Always give thanks in all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20)     

APPLICATION:

Appreciate God who has bestowed all spiritual blessings in Christ.

Be thankful for all His daily mercies. 

Cultivate  a grateful heart.