Thanksgiving Every DayNäide

“Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

Philippians 4:14–17

Most people realize the importance of gratitude, so if they are asked, they will say that they are grateful people. Yet we also see that while gratitude is declared, it is often not lived. It is impossible for a person who is truly grateful for all that God has done for him not to respond with a generous spirit. I read an interesting study that was done back in the mid-2000s when the stock market was experiencing a roaring bull market and times were good. The analysis revealed that Americans gave a smaller percentage of their income in 2006 than they had during the worst year of the Great Depression. A person who is not generous when he has a little, will not become generous by getting more.

If we appreciate what God has done for us, it will show in our giving. When Jesus stopped and talked to a despised tax collector in Jericho and brought him the message of salvation, Zacchaeus did not simply repent; he showed that repentance by giving:“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luke 19:8).

Every believer has been given an incredible gift—through no effort or merit of his own. The response of a thankful heart should be a willingness to give, returning to God a portion of that with which He has blessed us so that others can receive the same message of salvation.

A selfish, miserly person is not a grateful person, for gratitude inspires giving.