Why God's People Give Thanks

Ps 34:1-10
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
WHY IS THANKSGIVING IMPORTANT?
INTRODUCTION
Some practical functions of thanksgiving in the life of the believer
Thanksgiving plays an important role in our relationship with Christ. It serves at least three important
functions in helping us walk with Him as we should.
1) Thanksgiving to God Protects us from Pride
It is an acknowledgment of the source of our blessings. Not by our own accomplishment have we
prospered, but by the blessings of God. The thankless heart is a prideful, selfish heart. But the
thankful heart is submissive and obedient.
Consider God's warnings to Israel (Deut. 8:6-18). One of the greatest dangers to God's people throughout
history has been comfort and complacency.
Complacency: a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better
: a complacent feeling or condition
Deut 8:6-18
6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear
him.
7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and
depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose
stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he
hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his
judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou
hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the
land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions,
and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee,
and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he
may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
In hard times we seek Him, in comfortable times we forget Him. Giving thanks reminds us that it is
not in and of ourselves that the blessings have come but the divine providence and provision.
2) Giving Thanks Promotes Good Stewardship
An understanding of the true source and ownership of all that we have frees those resources to be
used for his purposes.
a. Consider the offering for the Temple (1 Chron.29):
1 Chr 29:14-18
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for
all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a
shadow, and there is none abiding.
16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name
cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the
uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy
people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of
the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
Exodus 36:3-7 King James Version (KJV)

3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of
the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every
morning.
4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which
they made;
5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the
work, which the Lord commanded to make.
6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let
neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were
restrained from bringing.
7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
b. Consider the early church

Acts 2:42-45
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Acts 4:32-35
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that
ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace
was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses
sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he
had need.
If God has provided all that you have, and has demonstrated that He faithfully meets your needs, there
is no fear in the surrender of your possessions because you know He will provide!
3) Giving Thanks Points to the Source of Our Security
a. Whom or what do you trust?
Many today place their confidence in their job, the strength of their country, or the safety of their
investments.
Rom 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Col 3:1
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand
of God.
I Jn 4:4-6
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that
is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we
the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
But the only REAL security is in the providence of God! And it is THAT attitude of trust that goes a
long ways towards making one a godly and righteous person.
b. David was identified as "a man after God's own heart". Consider His testimony:
Ps 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who
seek you.
Ps 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Ps 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who
turn aside to false gods.
Ps 62:10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set
your heart on them.
Psalm 116:12
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
CONCLUSION:
You didn't produce what you have. You cannot produce what you need. God has provided it all for you.
From your salvation to what you have as blessings here in this morning, God has provided it all. It is to
your advantage to GIVE HIM THANKS.

Why God's People Give Thanks

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Why God's People Give Thanks

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What are three practical functions of thanksgiving according to the passage?

What does the passage say about trusting in God versus trusting in other things?

Ps 34:1-10

WHY IS THANKSGIVING IMPORTANT?

1) Thanksgiving to God Protects us from Pride

2) Giving Thanks Promotes Good Stewardship

a. Consider the offering for the Temple (1 Chron.29):

Exodus 36:3-7 King James Version (KJV)

b. Consider the early church

3) Giving Thanks Points to the Source of Our Security

a. Whom or what do you trust?

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