Thank Who?
Thanksgiving may be a big deal where we live, but culturally speaking, we have a big thanksgiving problem. Things look great on the surface; we feast, rest and enjoy the company of loved ones and friends, all while reflecting on the ever-important question: “FOR WHAT am I thankful?” And as important as this question is, it begs an equally important question that often goes completely unasked, “TO WHOM am I thankful?” Our annual exercise of creating a list of our blessings makes little sense without some form of a benevolent bless-er. Yes, gratitude warms the heart and fills the soul as it is supposed to. But gratitude must go somewhere; it must be directed toward someone. Otherwise, it stagnates and soaks in and something terrible happens… we count our blessing only to realize we count on ourselves. We have become the bless-er, the giver, the self-sufficient and capable (or perhaps, not-so-capable) provider.
Our culture has no answer for this thanksgiving problem. We are just supposed to avoid how unnatural it is to give thanks to no one and ignore how ironic it is to give thanks to ourselves. The Christian worldview has no such problem. In fact, the Bible introduces us to the great Giver before any good gift or any grateful recipient even exists. Mankind in general, Adam in particular, was born into a blessed condition. The God of the Bible is the ultimate source of all good things, for He is good and is powerfully working all things (yes, even things for which we are not immediately thankful) together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His good purpose (Romans 8:28).
A short study of the New Testament word for “thanksgiving” or “thankfulness” reveals just how naturally gratitude to God comes for the Christian. We have so much to be thankful for, namely His faithful provision, His sovereign control, the miracle of salvation and our spiritual growth. And it is this sense of gratitude that inspires our joy, worship and devotion to our good God. Enjoy meditating on the simple word study below and may God get all the thanks He alone deserves this Thanksgiving and every day of our lives.
God is a faithful provider of all good things to be enjoyed.
Matthew 15:36 – he took the seven loaves and the fish and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (Mark 8:6, John 6:11,23)
Matthew 26:27-28 – And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 14:23, Luke 22:17-19, 1 Corinthians 11:24)
Acts 27:35 – And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.
Romans 14:6 – The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
1 Corinthians 10:30-31 – If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Philippians 4:6 – do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Colossians 4:2 – Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
1 Timothy 4:1-4 – Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgivingby those who believe and know the truth.
God sovereignly and providentially determines all things.
Luke 18:11 – The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
John 11:41-42 – So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Acts 28:15 – And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
1 Corinthians 1:14-15 – I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
Ephesians 1:16-17 – I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him…
Philippians 1:3-5 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
1 Thessalonians 3:8-10 – For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Timothy 2:1 – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…
God miraculously produces spiritual growth and maturity.
Luke 17:15-16 – Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
Romans 1:8 – First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
1 Corinthians 1:4-5 – I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge…
Colossians 1:3-5 – We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.
Colossians 1:11-12 – …being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 – And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 – We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Philemon 1:4-6 – I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
God’s existence can be observed, and He is deserving worship and glory.
Romans 1:21 – For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
1 Corinthians 14:15-16 – I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
2 Corinthians 1:11 – You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
2 Corinthians 4:15 – For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 9:10-12 – He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Ephesians 5:18-20 – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Revelation 4:8-9 – And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever…
Revelation 7:11-12 – And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 11:16-17 – And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great powerand begun to reign.
Our gratitude is demonstrated to God by our holy lives of obedience.
Ephesians 5:3-4 – But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 – Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:15-17 – And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Timothy 4:5 – For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.