Gratitude Expressions
Gordon Crook, PastorGrace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: Psalm 92:1. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Psa. 100:4.
We have all been taught that we should say “please” and “thank you,” and it is surely good to do this. Really, though, it is more important to actually be thankful than to just say it. A true attitude of gratitude is what brings out a sincere expression of gratefulness.
Public Expression of Gratitude
We express our gratitude to our Lord in the congregation (public), as we worship. David wrote psalms to give thanks, and appointed certain of the Levites to express that gratitude in 1 Chronicles 16:4-7. You may not know how to write a song or psalm of thankfulness, but you can certainly express your gratitude in the form of a testimony, or simply praising God, in the assembly, for His goodness. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15.
True worship comes from the heart, and a heart that is truly grateful will bring forth worship that is beautiful to our Lord. We know that God sees our heart, and is not fooled by our words if they are not sincere. 1 Chronicles 28:9. Sincere gratefulness will come from a realization of what God has done for us, versus what we really deserved. God does not demand our gratitude, but desires that it be sincere. It is given of a willing heart. “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.” Leviticus 22:29.
Gratitude Lived
True gratefulness is not just expressed with words, but should also be expressed with our lives. You may have heard the saying, “words are cheap” or, “actions speak louder than words.” It really is true. If we are truly grateful to God, our lives will show it. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:17.
Contentment is Gratitude
One of the ways our lives show true gratefulness, is in contentment. If we truly recognize that God supplies all our needs, then we must learn to be content in whatever state we are. Paul came to understand this in his life. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:11-12. We are encouraged to have this same attitude in Hebrews 13:5; “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” An attitude of discontentment is an attitude of ungratefulness.
Gratitude in Adversity
So, what if things are not going our way? What if we are having problems? Maybe we should hold the gratefulness for later. After all, we are really only grateful for the “good” things God does for us, right? This would be the attitude that the world would encourage us to have.
However, this is not the attitude we find in Scripture. Job is probably the best example of this. After terribly tragic occurrences in his life, we find this attitude; “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:20-21. It is of course true that all that we have is a result of God’s mercy and grace, which are attributes of our God. Sometimes God may allow things in our lives for our good, but we may perceive them as “bad” or “tragic.” But we know that “all things work together for good for God’s chosen” Romans 8:28. And so, we can do as encouraged in I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Ephesians 5:20, Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reasons to be thankful:
I Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14 – victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:12 – made fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1 Timothy 1:12 – enabled for ministry;
1 Timothy 4:3-4 – food provided by God
Psalm 106:1 – His mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 30:4 – His holiness.
2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
If there were never anything else that God did for us, the gift of His Son is enough to elicit our gratitude for all of eternity.
