A Biblical View of Giving Thanks

The Bible consistently portrays the Christian life as one of giving thanks. Even the impeccable protagonist of the Gospels, Jesus Himself, is shown multiple times giving thanks to His Father. If you really think about this for a second it is incredible, because to give thanks is to admit to a degree of dependence, to acknowledge some measure of inferiority. Jesus, as a man, fully depended on the Father and lived under and acknowledged His providential care. When performing miracles, even though He was fully capable as the Son of God to perform them, even though He was equal with God, He recognized the Father as the source and kept Himself in the position of a receiver, and therefore gave thanks. In fact, in the Gospels the one who says ‘thank you’ the most is Jesus. This alone should cause us to stop and consider the real significance of giving thanks.

In the Epistles, Paul also exhibits a life of thankfulness. He is continually reminding the Christians under his care to give thanks. These reminders peak with the charge to give thanks “at all times for all things” (Eph. 5:20). At all times? For all things? According to Paul, thankfulness is like an immense canopy that spreads over everything.

Giving thanks should characterize the Christian at all times. As preposterous as it sounds, there is nothing that can happen to us, to which thankfulness is not the appropriate response. Such a life reveals a deep recognition of God’s sovereignty, providence, and grace. By giving thanks to God for all things we verbalize our faith in the fact that God knows what’s best for us. By expressing our inward thankful heart, we show to others that we receive and agree with what He arranges. By giving thanks we glorify God (Psa. 50:23).

In the present, it may be hard to see how we can thank God for certain things. As Paul said, “now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). However, in the next age our present circumstantial sufferings will acquire a greater transparency, in which the graciousness of God will shine through and illuminate us. Then, with the awesome realization of how much God’s grace has abounded toward us in every situation, our thanksgiving will abound back to God unto His glory (2 Cor. 4:15). Faith, however, reaches beyond the present opacity and the painful obscurity and utters its thankfulness now. This is what Paul wants us to aspire to.

We increasingly live in a culture that does not give thanks, that takes things for granted, and that is engulfed by a fog of entitlement. All the more then, we as Christians, as believers, should cultivate a life of thankfulness as a testimony to the grace of God. To help cultivate this, here are twelve verses that provide an overview of giving thanks in the New Testament. The first ten are positive, educational, and inspiring, whereas the last two are negative examples of what not to be.

12 Verses on the Importance of Giving Thanks

Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed to those who were reclining… –John 6:11

For all things are for your sakes that the grace which has abounded through the greater number may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. –2 Cor. 4:15

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! –2 Cor. 9:15

Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father. –Eph. 5:20

As therefore you have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in Him… abounding in thanksgiving. –Col. 2:6-7

And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. –Col. 3:15

And whatever you do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. –Col. 3:17

For what thanks can we return to God concerning you for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God. –1 Thes. 3:9

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. –1 Thes. 5:18

We ought to thank God always… –2 Thes. 2:13

…Though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or thank Him… –Rom. 1:21

But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful… –2 Tim 3:1-2

By: K. Barton

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Kyle Barton

Kyle served on staff at CSOC from 2011 to 2021 and is now studying systematic theology at Princeton. He also blogs at conversantfaith.com. He was born in Irving, Texas and graduated from UT with a B.S. in architectural engineering.