THE BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his loves endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)

What does thanksgiving do for us? What are the results of a grateful heart? Here are three.

1. Gratitude stimulates us to do good to others unselfishly. We will do more out of gratitude that we will do out of fear, or from hope of reward. Thankfulness for our redemption is the motive power of the Christian life. “Christ died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Cor.5:15). Gratitude has to express itself in action. Those who are most aware of their blessings do the most for others. Gratitude cannot feel that it has done enough for others in the Lord’s service. There is no way we can pay off our debt to our Redeemer.
2. Gratitude makes worship real and sincere. Praise is the voice of thankfulness. It is the expression of all that we owe to our Creator and Redeemer. Worship is not the means whereby we seek to obtain favors from the Lord but the means of thanking him for what he has done for us. The majority of the psalms and hymns are expressions of gratitude for all of God’s mercies to us. “Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices; for wondrous things he’s done in whom this world rejoices.” Even the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, is called the Eucharist – the Great Thanksgiving, through which we give thanks for Christ’s Body broken and his Blood shed for our salvation.
3. Thankfulness here on earth is the best possible preparation for the spirit and life of heaven. Heaven is the home of thankful souls; its occupations would be misery for those who feel no gratitude. “Blessing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever” (Rev.7:12). “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Rev.5:12). How can we sing that song hereafter, if we do not appreciate its spirit here and now? If the habits which are forming in this life will be carried by each of us into the eternal world, how should we not pray God to give us “such and awareness of your mercies, that that with truly thankful hearts we may be show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service.”