Articles
It's Good to Be Thankful!
God wants us to be thankful people. The Bible is very clear about that. Let’s look at a few things God’s word says about our thankfulness.
God wants us to be grateful for everyday blessings like food. “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.” (1Ti 4:4-5) We don’t forget how blessed we are if we remember to thank God for our blessings. We don’t make the mistake of worshipping created things if we keep thanking their creator.
God wants us to give thanks in all circumstances (1Thess. 5:18). How can we give thanks in all circumstances, even the bad ones? Our God brings good out of even the bad things that happen to us (Rom. 8:28). We can be thankful for that!
God wants us to give thanks all the time (Eph. 5:20). If we’re in the habit of regularly counting our blessings, we won’t be in the habit of grumbling. That’s a benefit to us and the people around us.
God wants us to give thanks because being thankful is good for us. “A joyful heart is good medicine.” (Prov. 17:22) Habitually grateful people are happier and sick less often. We take for granted and squander the blessings we’re not grateful for. Gratitude leads us to be good stewards of blessings such as possessions, time, health, friends, and family. None of our blessings bring us joy if we’re not grateful for them.
God wants us to be thankful for our salvation. If we’re not grateful that Jesus died to take away our sins, we’re not properly motivated to serve God. If we’re truly grateful for what Jesus did, we’ll strive to glorify God in all we do (1Cor. 10:31).
Let’s give our God a pleasing offering every day. Let’s be thankful all the time. -Paul
