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Paul prayed they would overflow with praise and thanks to God.
(Colossians 1:12; Ephesians 1:15–17; 2 Corinthians 9:12–14)
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“ . . . giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saintsin light” (Colossians 1:12).[/perfectpullquote]
You know what bugs me? When I don’t receive thanks for doing or giving something from the bounty of my magnanimous heart. For example, it’s bad enough having to drive on Route 22, but when I let another driver pull in ahead of me, I expect him or her to acknowledge my concern for their safety and well-being, with at least a wave of thanks. And when I signal a truck that it’s safe to pull into my lane, I wait for those taillights to blink in gratitude. Speaking of lanes, how about those little old ladies I let cut in front of me at the cashier? I guess I don’t sound very spiritual!
We can agree that the greater the act of generosity, the more deserving of thanks it is. And we know that gratitude does not exist in a vacuum; there must be someone who should receive those expressions of thanks. This is what must make Thanksgiving Day a real stumbling stone for atheists.
In Colossians 1:3, Paul and Timothy thanked God for what He did in saving those believers. Because of the proof of their faith, these two spiritual giants prayed that the Colossians would, essentially, become better Christians, which included giving thanks to God for giving them an inheritance in light (1:12).
Paul did the same for the saints in Ephesus (1:15–17), asking God to give them wisdom and a more intimate, fuller knowledge of God and appreciation for His gifts. Notice that the thanks ultimately go to God, even when they are initially directed toward a person. The Corinthians were generous in meeting the needs of the saints in Jerusalem, who thanked and prayed for them (2 Corinthians 9:12–14) in return.
In the bible, thanksgiving and praise are often linked together, which makes sense. When we thank someone, we are showing the value of their deeds, even if it’s appreciation for a valiant attempt that failed. This is proven by its opposite, when we sarcastically say, “Thanks a lot!” when someone does something that troubles us — We’re certainly not praising that person!
At the temple, there were musicians “who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord” (1 Chronicles 25:3). Praise and thanksgiving go together in the public assembly (Psalm 35:18). Praise and thanksgiving will flow from our lips for eternity (Psalm 79:13). Why all this praise and thanksgiving? “[For] he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 106:1). Let us “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t thank someone for just the slightest and most-expected deed, even when people are “doing their job.” Everyone appreciates being appreciated, from the trash collector to the clerk to the mailman to the faithful spouse. Ultimately, we need to remember that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). So, fill up your tanks with thanks and your days with praise!
Alan Allegra
