“What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?” This popular internet quote should remind us of how prone we are to ungratefulness. Yet, it begs the question: why be thankful? If we’re not careful, our concept of gratitude can quickly become no more than a trendy, self-help technique.
With all the talk about being thankful this time of year, what is our underlying motivation? Is it the love of things? Is it the fear of losing those things? Or is it flowing from a truly grateful heart, knowing that “every good and perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17, ESV)?
Why Be Thankful? It’s a Form of Praise
All throughout the Bible, thanksgiving and praising God are inextricably linked. Psalm 106:1 states, “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” The Apostle Paul tells us repeatedly to be thankful and to give thanks always and in all circumstances (Col. 3:15; 1 Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20). He states in Philippians 4:6, “…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” We have the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 15:36, giving thanks to God for the loaves and the fish. A similar act of thanksgiving is recorded by Paul regarding the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:24.
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
-Psalm 107:8-9, ESV
Why Be Thankful? It’s Our Duty
In his 1734 Thanksgiving sermon, Puritan pastor Jonathan Edwards preached from Revelation chapter 14:2-3. Here we see the redeemed saints in heaven singing praises to God, just as His redeemed people sang His praises above in Psalm 107. Edwards stated, “The work of the saints in heaven doth very much consist in praising God.” His point was that giving thanks and praise to God is not merely a temporary duty here on earth. It’s even the work of the saints in heaven; the most fulfilling work imaginable!
Why Be Thankful? Because there is no measure to our Blessings!
iRapture.com loves to celebrate when we have reason to celebrate. It’s in this vein that the staff would like to express thanks:
“I am thankful for a wonderful wife with four children who love God. I am also thankful for a place to work that lets me be active in God’s will by helping organizations – that help children – the youngest of children and their moms. And I am thankful that my work provides me with the opportunity to serve along side awesome organizations and churches full of life minded friends as we work to communicate with women facing an unplanned pregnancy.” – Jacob Barr, iRapture.com
“I am thankful for a new chapter in my life with the start of my new family. Also,I am thankful to be working for a company with integrity and morals that puts God first in how it’s run. I am thankful for the rest of my family, and I am thankful for what God has done in my life.” -Tony Smith, iRapture.com
“I am very thankful for all that God provides me with, including a wonderful family, a happy home and all the love and support I could ask for. It means the world to me that I am able to wake up every morning and work for a company where I can continue to walk in my faith and spread God’s promises. iRapture.com is more than a workplace, it’s an extended family, a community of people with the same goals and desires to help those in need. I am thankful every day for the life I have been given and I look forward to all my future holds.” -Tanya Ruiz, iRapture.com
Why be thankful? Because iRapture.com has clients and partners like you who choose to support this mission. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season? The team at iRapture.com would love to hear from you. Give them a call at (877) 488-799 or e-mail [email protected].
Author
Mark Lilly is a freelance content writer standing for truth in marketing. See more from Mark on Twitter.
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