Three links to thanksgiving …

In 2021, it’s hard to find an article to read that doesn’t contain a link (or several!) leading you to yet another article related to the topic you’re reading about.

That’s because so many things are inter-connected.

Take, for example, giving thanks.

Someone has given you something, or done something for you … and there are “links.”

At least, there should be.

When it comes to giving thanks to God, at least three “links” come to mind:

The “link” of prayer to thanksgiving. It’s hard to think you’ve expressed thanks to God without actually saying to Him, “Thanks!” Talking to God is called “prayer,” so there’s an essential link in our giving thanks to God to prayer. This “link” is revealed in biblical exhortations such as:

“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 5:20.

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father,” Colossians 3:17.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done,” Philippians 4:6.

The most direct way we have to express thanksgiving to God is through prayer … so just how often do your prayers contain sincere and humble giving of thanks?

The second “link” attached to the giving of thanks is how we live. There’s a behavioral issue we talk about in the field of psychology called “discrepancies.” Discrepancies cause a great deal of internal conflict because a discrepancy is when you say or claim one thing, but live or act differently than what you say.

It’s one thing to say “thank you,” but it doesn’t mean much if how we live doesn’t substantiate the claim that we really, truly are thankful. That’s why scripture doesn’t just exhort us to “give thanks” with our words only, but to be thankful — that how we live demonstrates genuine gratitude to God.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts,” Colossians 3:15-16.

There’s an undeniable link in sincerely being thankful to living a life that reflects being a thankful person.

The third “link” attached to the giving of thanks is generosity, what you do with what you’ve received. God knows your personal needs, and provides for you, but it’s not all just for you! When, from thankful hearts, we share with others, their needs are also met and they join us in giving thanks!

“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving — the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God,” 2 Corinthians 9:10-12.

Not only do we demonstrate our thanksgiving to God for what He does, gives, and provides by being generous with what we receive, that also includes the “gift” of the Gospel. Having received this great gift, we generously share it as ambassadors of Christ:

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!'” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.

THE MISSING LINK
Did you know that a failure to say and to demonstrate thanksgiving to God is ascribed to those who don’t know God?

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused,” Romans 1:18-21.

Giving thanks has it’s links … things like prayer, how you live, and generosity. When you say you’re thankful to God, what are you linking that to?

Scotty