What Does the Bible Say About Gratitude?
Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us, and it seems that now is the time when gratitude seems to be on our hearts and minds the most, and if we’re honest, it’s probably the only time of year we really focus on giving thanks.
More and more, our culture is cultivating an attitude of victimhood and complaining rather than one of thanksgiving — something we’re warned about in 2 Timothy 3:2.
As people of God, we are called to be thankful, humble people, but we have to understand that gratitude is not seasonal, and it’s much more than telling your friends and family that you’re happy they’re around.
The Bible gives us clear instructions about how, when, and why we should be grateful.
Here, Pastor Chris and our team at Elevate Community Church take a closer look at gratitude and what the Bible says about it.
Be grateful for God’s goodness
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul asks, “What do you have that you did not receive?”
And we pose the same question to you now.
Take a moment to look around you or be still for a time and think about all the things you have and the people in your life. James 1:17 tells us that everything on the list you just made, every “good and perfect gift” is from God Himself.
We serve a God who gives to His children freely and cheerfully. Let us be thankful for that this holiday season.
For further reading: Psalm 136:1, John 10:10, Psalm 136, Psalm 118:24
Be grateful for God’s greatness
Our God is a mighty and powerful God. No one knew this better than David in the Old Testament.
He wrote in Psalm 30:1-12: “I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. . . . You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”
God, and God alone, has the power to deliver, rescue, and repair now, in the past, and in the future. Give thanks this year for God’s hand in your life, for He is worthy.
For further reading: 1 Chronicle 29:11, Exodus 14:14, 1 John 4:4
Be grateful for God’s Grace
If you didn’t know it already, you, us, the person next to you are all sinners. And without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we would forever be separated from God.
Thankfully, we can have a restored relationship with God and have eternal life. These are free gifts that we receive: all we have to do is believe.
And if that’s not something to be grateful for, we don’t know what is!
For further reading: 2 Timothy 1:9, 2 Corinthians 9:8 , Romans 1:1-5, Lamentations 3:22-23
Be grateful always
We’ve covered some of the reasons why we should be grateful, but now we need to look at when we’re supposed to be grateful.
If you haven’t guessed already, it’s a bit of a trick question because there’s no set time, season, or circumstance for gratitude. This is best summed up with the verses from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that read, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Gratitude is a 24/7, 365 mindset. When things are good, when things are bad, when we get up in the morning, when we go to bed — this is when we should be grateful.
Some of the best ways to incorporate an attitude of gratitude to God are through three main areas: praising God, praying to God, and serving others.
Psalm 100:4 says, “enter his gates with thanksgiving…” In other words, gratitude is the gateway to worship. Here is a question that I must prayerfully ask myself every day, am I thankful? Is my heart full of gratitude or resentment? Gratitude and resentment cannot co-exist. The resentful heart cannot say thank you for what it has been given because it can only look at what it does not have. And therefore, a resentful heart cannot be a place of worship. If I have truly surrendered my life to God and I trust that God is good, then who am I to say anything but thank you for what comes to me from the Father’s hand.
Start incorporating these habits today, and you’ll be amazed at how your life changes. Even Harvard researchers agree. They found that gratitude is “...strongly and consistently associated with great happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Examples of gratitude to pray over this season
We encourage you to dive deeper into the concept of gratitude and make Biblical thanksgiving a priority this holiday season (and every other season after that). With your family and during your quiet time, pray and meditate over these examples of gratitude from the Bible:
Jesus
Daniel
David
Jonah
Hannah
Paul
Want more information about Biblical gratitude? Need prayer support? We’re here for you. Get in touch with us through social media or by sending us an email at info.elevatecommunitychurch@gmail.com
