“ARE YOU THANKFUL THIS THANKSGIVING, OR JUST HAPPY?”

Romans 1.21

 

Here are a few points to ponder on Thanksgiving Day, along with some Scripture verses that show thankfulness to be rightly directly to the One responsible for the blessing that is enjoyed. 

1A.   ONE OF MAN’S GREAT TENDENCIES IS TO BE UNTHANKFUL TOWARD GOD  

2A.   WHAT IS THOUGHT TO BE THANKFULNESS IS ACTUALLY HAPPINESS  

3A.   WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND THANKFULNESS? 

1B.    Happiness results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good.^[1] 

2B.    But this word “thankful,” translating the Greek word eujcaristevw, refers to showing yourself to be obligated, to showing appreciation for benefits or blessings, give thanks, express thanks.^[2] 

3B.    But as the word is used in the New Testament, we see that a frequently overlooked difference between being happy and being thankful is that thankfulness is directed toward the person who bestowed the blessing. 

Don’t just be happy that things are well for you or that you are enjoying life.  Recognize that God has blessed you by expressing thanks to Him, thanking Him for the blessings you have received from Him. 

Luke 17:16                     And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

Luke 18:11                     The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Acts 27:35                     And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

Acts 28:15                     And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

Romans 1:8                    First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 1:21                  Because that, 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.

Romans 7:25                  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 14:6                  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.  He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Romans 16:4                  Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 1:4          I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

1 Corinthians 1:14        I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

1 Corinthians 10:30      For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

1 Corinthians 11:24      And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 14:17      For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

1 Corinthians 14:18      I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

2 Corinthians 1:11        Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Ephesians 1:16              Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Ephesians 5:20              Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Philippians 1:3              I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

Colossians 1:3              We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Colossians 1:12            Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Colossians 3:17            And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Thessalonians 1:2     We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

1 Thessalonians 2:13   For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 Thessalonians 5:18   In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

2 Thessalonians 1:3     We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

2 Thessalonians 2:13   But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Philemon 1:4                  I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Revelation 11:17           Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

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