To me, this scripture begs one question: "why?" Why is the giving of thanks so heavily emphasized throughout the Word of God?
Is it out of a sense of obligation? No.
Is it in appreciation of sacrifices made? Still, no.
God doesn't need our obligatory response or even our appreciation.
God doesn't need anything from us.
"24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Acts 17 verses 24-25 (emphasis added)
I believe God requires our thanks that we might receive most wholly the gift given. It is for our sakes, as everything He commands us to do is shown to be when viewed through the understanding of His perfect love.
God knows that we enjoy His gifts in their purest form through, and only through, our thankfulness in receiving them from Him. Anything else might glorify the gift, and in so doing detract from our perfect freedom in Christ.
I want to live in a place of constant thankfulness. It shouldn't be as hard as it is; The Lord has been so gracious to me. A friend of mine has begun a list of 1000 things that she loves about life, things she is thankful for. I love this idea, and think it is a brilliant way to receive and appreciate more fully the little expressions of God's love for me in my everyday life.
If you love this idea like I did, I challenge you to do it with me.
So here we go...
1. When you first fall in love with a song
2. Laughing with someone new
3. Driving an automobile
4. Freshly painted nails
5. When prose is so well-written that it reads like poetry
6. Finding a simple recipe online that actually turns out nice
7. Coming home to family at the end of a long day
8. Freshly washed sheets
9. Finishing a long workout
10. Breathing in fresh air
11. Finding the perfect lipstick shade
12. Cologne. Enough said.
13. The taste of a perfectly ripe tomato
987 more to go...
Tina Hakimi is an Arizona-raised, Sydney-based writer pursuing her doctorate at UNSW.
Tina Hakimi previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/tina-hakimi.html