Doctrines (posted Saturday, June 16 2007)

One of the great commands to God's people throughout all of scripture is to give thanks. Both Old Testament and New Testament believers are to express gratitude toward God for His marvelous blessings and Grace continually, not just before meals or at certain times of year

Why is giving thanks so important?

Why should we give thanks?

The Bible teaches that a required part of a believer's spiritual life is thankfulness to God. In fact, it is a key to living in and understanding everything about His Grace.

In the early church, many of the new Christians were Jews who had previously lived under the Mosaic Law. Paul had to deal with some forms of legalism which said that certain rituals ought to be continued in the new Christian life; specifically the Sabbath day and the eating of certain forbidden foods. But he taught that following or not following these old rituals doesn't matter either way, as long as each person does so as an expression of thanks toward God.

- Romans 14:5-6 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

- 1 Corinthians 10:30-31 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

- 1 Timothy 4:3-5 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Therefore, in this period of Grace, the spiritual life is not about the ritual details. The importance is in each one walking the Christian way of life in appreciation of the Grace of God.

When should we give thanks?

In the Old Testament, Israel thanked God in many ways including a specific type of Levitical offering, the thanksgiving offering, and through writing and singing song of praise. For example, many of the psalms include choruses or entire sections of thanksgiving.

- Psalm 136:1-3 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever.

- Psalm 107:8,15,21,31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men

During His ministry, Jesus gave thanks to the Father every time He shared food with others, when the Communion rite was instituted, and before He raised Lazarus. He even gave thanks after His resurrection from death, as a testimony of His total reliance on the Father's provisions and plan.

- Matthew 26:26-27 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you."

- Mark 6:14 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

- Luke 24:30-31 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

- John 11:41-42 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

Therefore, as a key aspect of a Christian's walk, thanksgiving is to be done at all times. This does not mean that a person has to be engaged in a direct prayer or hymn to God every second of every day. However, every activity should be engaged in an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude for Grace.

- Ephesians 1:15-16 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

- Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

- Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

It is worthwhile to note that Paul began most of his epistles with thanks to the Father. In fact, he only went straight to the matter in four of his 13 letters: 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Timothy, and Titus, three of which dealt with large problems in the church. Clearly, thanksgiving to God was continually on Paul's mind even during the multiple times that he was in prison.

Paul was thankful during suffering?

As the chosen Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul was a kind of transitional conduit from the Judaism of old to the Church of the new. He received special revelations that even Peter and John did not receive though they walked with Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

- 2 Peter 3:15-16 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

But even during times of duress, Paul was thankful. This was not a new revelation to him, as even the saints of the Old Testament expressed thankfulness to God during times of suffering as a teacher and reminder of our dependence on Him.

- Psalm 119:61-62 Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

- Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

- Jonah 2:9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.

Paul was simply living and walking, day to day, in an attitude of thanks. It did not matter what circumstances he was in or what pressures he was under, he continually praised and thanked God for His magnificent provisions. He followed His example, our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is also the example for us. And we can begin our thanksgiving with the example and salvation provided by our Lord Jesus Christ.