Introduction:
1) Psalms 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 shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,”
a) Be thankful – to be grateful, appreciative of what someone has done for us.
b) Give thanks – express our appreciation, or gratitude. Giving thanks may be expressed verbally or by some reciprocal act.
2) Psalm 92 says it is good to give thanks. Why is giving thanks good?
Discussion:
1) GIVING THANKS IS THE WILL OF GOD.
a) 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
b) Thayer’s Lexicon defines “will” as “what one wishes or determines will be done.” We like for others to express their appreciation to us. Doesn’t it only make sense that God likes for us to express our appreciation toward Him?
c) In every thing give thanks. May seem difficult and, admittedly, it sometimes is. But it is possible to find reason to give thanks in any and every situation in life.
2) GIVING THANKS HELPS US RECOGNIZE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON GOD.
a) James 1:16-17 – “Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
b) Do not err – don’t be mistaken about it. We might say “Don’t kid yourself.” If you start to think you have accomplished what you have solely on your own, apart from God, you are only kidding yourself. Every good thing that you have has come from God.
c) With God, there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. When we look at God from every angle possible, from every perspective, it becomes evident that God is good.
3) GIVING THANKS HELPS US LEARN TO BE CONTENT.
a) 1 Timothy 6:6-10 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (Other translations, such as the American Standard Version, translate verse ten to read, “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”.)
b) The world is constantly trying to draw us to the things of the world and, in the process, draw us further way from God.
c) When we give thanks, we concentrate on our fortune in life, rather than our misfortune. We concentrate on what we have, rather than on what we do not have. We become content with our situation in life and are able to focus on what really matters – our relationship with God.
Conclusion:
1) Is it any wonder, then, that the psalmist wrote, “It is good to give thanks?”