Giving Thanks

“And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat.” (Acts 27:35)

PAUL was on board a ship that had gone through a storm. He counseled the people on board the ship to take some food. Our verse records Paul giving thanks to God for the food. It is a most instructive verse about thanksgiving. We note five things about this giving of thanks by Paul.

• Paul gave thanks. A grateful heart is a good heart. In all your learning, learn to give thanks. It is vital learning. People who do not know how to give thanks have a character problem. You may fail in many areas of life, but you will have a successful life if you know how to give thanks.
• Paul gave thanks in spite of circumstances. Paul was a prisoner (unjustly) on board a ship in a storm. Yet, in spite of his dire circumstances, Paul still gave thanks. A good way to combat bad circumstances is to give thanks. Failure to give thanks will only make your circumstances worse.
• Paul gave thanks to God. God is the real source of our blessings and needs to be the first one thanked for all our blessings. Those who give thanks to God will be more likely to give thanks to their fellow man. An ungrateful heart towards God produces an ungrateful heart towards men.
• Paul gave thanks for what he had. Paul thanked God for the food, but it wasn’t much. He was not sitting down to a great feast which had all kinds of delicious food. We need to learn to give thanks for what we have rather than complain about what we do not have. Those who are always complaining about their lack are generally those who do not thank God for what they have. If you do not thank God for what you have, do not expect God to give you more.
• Paul gave thanks in public. This was not for show, but it was a testimony for God. So many people do not give thanks in public. Go to a public restaurant and observe how few people give thanks for their meals. If you are not willing to give God thanks in public, do not be surprised if God is not willing to bless you in public.

Thank you for tuning into Daily Bible Benefits Have a good and godly day

Butler, John G. 2005. Daily Bible Reading: Sermonettes. Vol. 3. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.