OUR DUTY TO GIVE THANKS.
By W. S. Sadler
A LARGE portion of our time is spent in asking for blessings, when it ought to be occupied in thanking God for blessings received. Read Ps. 92:1, 2: “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High; to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.” Gratitude is a good thing. It is also a duty in the doing of which we may expect to receive a blessing. If we desire a spirit of thankfulness, God will give it to us; for “no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Let us ask Him for more of the spirit of thanksgiving. The psalmist speaks here about giving thanks in the morning and in the evening, so at the beginning and close of each day we should offer our grateful thanks to the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Paul says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thess. 5:18. Here we see that the will of God is that we give thanks in and for everything, and this even includes any trouble we may have had, or any unpleasant experience we may have passed through. It embraces all things, not leaving out those that are disagreeable. Give thanks in everything that happens in your daily life. When the fiery trials come, as they surely will, give thanks for them, instead of thinking they are some “strange thing,” as many do. They are a part of God’s infinite plan of love for you, and He does all things well. It is good to give thanks for everything. “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.” Ps. 69:30, 31. The Lord says, “You can give Me money, deny yourself, and make all kinds of sacrifices; but it is more pleasing to Me to have you give thanks for what I have done for you; for My infinite sacrifice in your behalf. I would rather have you give thanks for what I am doing for you, than that you should do all you can for Me.” God is well pleased with thanksgiving, more pleased with it than with anything we can possibly do for Him. Our Saviour did not leave gratitude out of His life. In this He sets an example which we surely ought to imitate. We read: “And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me.” John 11:41. Christ was found giving thanks at every step. Instead of asking His Father to hear Him, He simply looks up and says, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me.” Without making any request, direct or implied, He simply thanks God for hearing Him. His request was in His heart. If we would pray more in our hearts than on our lips, both in public and in private, and then thank God in public for having heard us, it would be more pleasing in His sight. Let us remember He knows that we have need of all these things. “My God shall supply all your need”—not all your notions. When you don’t get what you have asked for, it is evidence that what you considered a need God saw was merely a notion, or else the time is not ripe for you to receive it. Thank God He has supplied all your needs, rather than be all the time asking Him to supply them. Be grateful because He is doing it for you every moment; and as you do so, your capacity to receive greater blessings will be increased, and it will be consistent for God to give you more. Paul says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 5:20. Every prayer should be flavored with a spirit of thankfulness, and it should be noted that we are to give thanks always, for all things. When we are in trouble, we go on breathing physically just the same. Prayer is the breathing of the soul; so when we are in distress or any kind of trouble, and we pray (and that is the time when people usually pray most), let us not omit to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for everything, even including our present affliction. When Christ had healed the ten lepers, and only one of them was sufficiently grateful to return and give thanks, He regarded the failure on the part of the nine to do so as base ingratitude. When we have been blessed, helped, preserved from danger or harm, the first thing we should do is to give thanks and recognize that God has delivered us. And the more promptly we do this, the more pleasing will our act be to Him who was our gracious benefactor. “When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Rom. 1:21. Unthankfulness is one way in which the Father is not glorified. Thankfulness does glorify the Father who is in heaven. The thankful man continually recognizes how weak he is; and how great, strong, and good the Father is. It is a foolish heart that is unthankful, and the consequence is that by and by that heart becomes darkened. Darkness and ingratitude go together along with foolishness; while wisdom and light accompany thanksgiving. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil. 4:6. We need not worry or feel anxious about what we are going to have, what will befall us, and so on. Do not take up all the time making requests, but thank God that your requests have been granted. Christ was in need on a certain occasion, and His need spoke so eloquently and loudly to the Father that it was answered without Christ, so far as we know, making any verbal request, so the Saviour looked up and said, “I thank Thee, O Father, that Thou hast heard Me.” God heard the language of His need; and we should ever remember that it is our need which prays most eloquently for us. Then, should we speak to the Lord about it, we should feel it our duty to thank Him that He heard the cry of our need even before we recognized our sorry plight, and turned our face and heart toward God for help. W. S. SADLER.