Thanksgiving: Being Grateful to God

Thanksgiving is a biblical word that is an essential part of a Christian’s vocabulary. We understand thanksgiving as the act of giving thanks for something received, but the Bible goes further than this simple definition. The biblical meaning of the word “thanksgiving” is not something you say in response to some good that was done for you, rather it is a believers spiritual attitude toward life. Biblical thanksgiving is a constant praise to God for Who He is and what He has done in our lives and in the lives of others.

Several Greek and Hebrew words are translated “thanks” and “thanksgiving” in the Bible. The Hebrew verb, “yadah” is the main word for thanks in the Old Testament and is used 114 times. It is normally translated “to give thanks,” “to praise,” or “to confess.” The most common Hebrew noun used for “thanks” (todah) is used 32 times in the Old Testament and predominately translated “thanksgiving.” The definition of these words are totally tied to who God is. The more we learn about God, the more we should praise and glorify Him. This isn’t just a polite “thank you” when God does something good in your life. This is a continual outpouring of praise to God for His infinite majesty and glory. This was so important to God that He had the Jewish nation institute a thanksgiving offering as part of the sacrificial system (Leviticus 7:11-15; 22:29-30).

In New Testament the word thanks, thanksgiving, thankful, etc. comes from the Greek word “eucharistia,” which is tied to the word “grace” (charis). It means gratitude, giving thanks, or conveying gratefulness to God as an act of worship. The word and its derivatives are seen 55 times in the New Testament. A couple of examples from Colossians will get the point across, We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you (Colossians 1:13). Giving thanks to the Father (Colossians 1:12). Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17). There are only two exceptions where the thanks not given to God, but is given to humans (Acts 24:3 and Romans 16:4).

As we experience God’s goodness in our lives and reflect on His greatness, we could say that every day is a day of thanksgiving. It is a privilege to offer our thanks to God in prayer when we wake, when we eat, throughout the day and at bedtime. We must convey our thankfulness in everything we say and do; it is part and parcel of being a Christian. When we live this way, other believers around us can’t help but be influenced to offer their own thankful prayers to God. We must live as thankful people for the sole reason that we live under the mighty hand of God, Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began (2 Timothy 2:9). From this perspective, all of our life is Christ’s and all of life’s activities become opportunities to offer thanks.