Giving Thanks to Who?
by Hank Dmochowski
You’ve probably seen it before.
Thanksgiving comes around, and all over social media and various op-eds in magazines and newspapers, there are articles on how to think about the holiday. It’s the one time a year the mainstream culture reminds itself to be thankful – but usually with the caveat that you don’t need to believe in God to benefit from the practice of thanksgiving.
That all sounds reasonable, until you really dig deeper.
Just like there can’t be a gift without someone to receive it, “Thanksgiving” requires a recipient. Here’s how Dictionary.com defines the word:
The act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgement of benefits or favors, especially to God. An expression of thanks, especially to God. A public celebration in acknowledgement of divine favor or kindness. A day set apart for giving thanks to God.
It’s impossible to be thankful to “the universe,” and though you can give thanks to a person around you – a mother, father, friend, neighbor – it is still ultimately God who is responsible for all of the good that we experience in life.
So we ought to thank Him for it.
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It is God’s will for us, His command to us, to give Him thanks. Not being grateful to God is a pitfall that many of us fall into, and it leads away from God and His goodness. Here’s how Romans 1 warns us against ungratefulness:
For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 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.
- Romans 1:20-21
Failing to give thanks to God removes our eyes from Him and puts our focus on other things. That can lead to a heart that is indifferent, cold to mercy and love, bitter, selfish, and prone to idolatry and dissatisfaction.
That is not what God wants for us.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
- Psalm 92:1-4
It is good to give thanks to the Lord! And it is good for us as well. I’ve read about studies that show medical and psychological health benefits to living lives of thanksgiving, and this lines up with what I’ve seen in other people my entire life. We can thank God for the material blessings that He gives, for the people He’s placed in our lives, for salvation in Jesus Christ, for His presence and power in our lives – we can even thank Him in the midst of hard times and tragedy.
We are fulfilling God’s instruction to us when we give Him thanks, and it does our hearts good. And if you’re still struggling with the idea of regularly thanking God, remember that He deserves it! He created us and the world we live in, He is merciful to us, He’s given us freedom, and joy and love come from Him.
This Thanksgiving, remember the importance of lifting our prayers to God in gratitude, and use it as an opportunity to begin practicing a lifestyle of giving thanks to God – not just creating a mindset.
