Bible Study

Title: The Influence of Thanksgiving
Date: Nov 24, 2005
Topic(s): Thankfulness
Scripture: Psalm 50:14, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 100:4-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 2:14-18

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Have you ever noticed a person who is truly thankful? Not a perpetually perky "have a nice day" approach, but someone with an attitude of appreciation and gratefulness. It's easy to be around those people because they make you feel good when you help them or spend time with them. Unfortunately, Christians sometimes have reputations as rigid, demanding, grumpy or judgmental people because we don't cultivate a heart of thanksgiving.

What Does God Say?

Thanksgiving is more than an "attitude of gratitude." God sees thanksgiving as an act of worship. The Old Testament laws even included thanksgiving as a reason for sacrifices.

Psalm 50:14 refers to this:

"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High" (ESV).

Thanksgiving is part of how we should approach God in worship. Psalm 100:4-5 says:

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations" (ESV).

Thanksgiving is part of God's will for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (ESV). And thankfulness is also a mark of spiritual maturity. Colossians 2:6-7 says, "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving" (ESV).

A deep sense of gratefulness needs to characterize our Christian walk, something that sets us apart in a greedy, complaining, ungrateful world. And that can be very attractive.

My Thoughts

Take a look at Philippians 2:14-18. What do these verses tell you to get rid of?

While thanksgiving isn't spelled out in this passage, it's hard to grumble or complain and be thankful at the same time. What are we to do in place of complaining?

What will be the result? Read verses 15-16.

Light attracts. It offers warmth and guidance, it helps things grow, it even warns and illuminates. When we get rid of complaints and discontent and replace them with thanksgiving and rejoicing, there's a visible, attractive difference that draws others to us, and ultimately to God who gives us every reason to be thankful people. It is vertical, reflecting gratitude toward God. And it is also horizontal, influencing our relationships and responses to other people.

My Part

Can you think of anyone in your life who has demonstrated thanksgiving? Were you drawn to them? Why? What influence did they have on you?

What about you? Do you think others see a heart of thanksgiving in you? Or is grumbling and complaining a way of life for you? If that's the case, turn Philippians 2:14-15 into a visible reminder to "Shine, not grumble."

You can also try this exercise:

• On a sheet of paper, draw two lines at right angles to each other so one is vertical and the other is horizontal.
• Along the vertical line, mark all the reasons to be thankful to God. If you get stuck, Psalm 136 and 139 might help.
• On the horizontal line, list ways you can show gratitude and thankfulness to others. This may include people who need to hear and see it from you.
• Then ask God to create in you a heart of thanksgiving that will also influence others.

Additional Scripture to read: Psalm 136, 139

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