The Ground of Our Gratitude

By: Brian G. Najapfour
Brian G. Najapfour is Pastor at Dutton United Reformed Church and author.  For a brief bio on Brian see: http://biblicalspirituality.wordpress.com/brief-bio/.

www.newlineministries.com

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good… (Psalm 118:1a)

 

The ultimate ground of our gratitude is not our circumstances, but God’s character. The ultimate ground of our gratitude is not our mood, but the fact that God is good. It is easy for us to thank the Lord when we are in a good mood, when we feel good. It is easy to thank the Lord when we receive blessings from Him. But, thanking God has nothing to do with what we receive from God. Give thanks to God. Why? Because He is good. Period! The fact that God is good is enough for us to thank Him regardless of our circumstances.  

 

The psalmist is calling us to thank the Lord for the fact that God is good. And, because God is always good, we always have a reason to thank Him. Even if He stops pouring out His blessings on us or on our family, still you have a reason to thank Him because He remains good. However, the problem today is that even in our gratitude we tend to be man-centered. We tend to thank God only when He gives us what we want.

 

Now, take note that the psalmist does not say, “Thank God for the many good things He has done for us.” So, in this context thanksgiving does not depend on God’s action, but on His attribute. We don’t say, “Lord, I will thank You if You do this to me; Lord, I will thank You if You answer my prayer; Lord, I will praise You if You heal my sickness.” My friend, even if the Lord does not grant our request, He still deserves our gratitude because He is good. His goodness is enough for us to glorify Him. There is a hymn that says,

 

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

 

Let us cultivate this kind of attitude—to be grateful to God even in the midst of sufferings. And, let us remember that this attitude of gratefulness is a command; everyone is commanded to do this.

 

www.newlineministries.com