Thanksgiving: Why?

One week from today is the day which our nation sets aside every year as a day of Thanksgiving.  For the Christian, this is a day set aside to give thanks to our great God and Savior, the creator and sustainer of heaven and earth.

The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks.  I have selected a number of verses and grouped them into five categories.  Those categories are: Why we should give thanks, What we should give thanks for, When we should give thanks, Where we should give thanks, and How we should give thanks.  Today I would like to look at the WHY.

WHY WE SHOULD GIVE THANKS

We should give thanks to God because of who he is.  First of all we should give thanks to him because he is holy.  Psalm 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness

We should give thanks to the LORD because he is sovereign over all things.  Revelation  11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

We should give thanks to the LORD because it is a good thing to do and because he is the most High God.  Psalm 92:1   It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

We should give thanks to God because he is good and because of his great mercy.   Psalms 106, 107, 118, and 136 all begin with these same words which we also find in 1 Chronicles 16:34.  1Chronicles 16:34   O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever

We should give thanks because the great things he has done have revealed him to us. Psalm 75:1   Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

We should also give thanks to the LORD because his judgment is always right and just.  Psalm 119:62   At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

And not only should we give thanks because of Gods righteousness, we should give thanks because through his marvelous gift of salvation we may also be called righteous and be counted among them spoken of here in Psalm 140:13  Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

We should give thanks to God because he is the one who provides salvation.  Jonah 2:9   But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

We should give thanks to God because it leads to our being able to live in peace.  1Timothy 2: 1-2   I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;   For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

We should give thanks to God because it is his will that we do so.  1Thessalonians 5:18   In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

We should give thanks to God because it magnifies him.  Psalm 69:30   I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

We should give thanks to LORD because it brings glory to him.  2Corinthians 4:15   For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.