As we give thanks to God, is there more involved than our verbal praise?

Last week, we in the United States celebrated Thanksgiving. As we did so, many of us (myself included) spent a little extra time thinking about the many blessings that we have been given by God. This is a good thing to do: after all, most of us can think of many reasons to be thankful. In Hebrews 13:15, the apostle Paul urges us to, “…continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” So it is appropriate to reflect on and thank God for His many blessings.

It is interesting, though, that Paul’s thought is not complete. In the following verse, he writes, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). So the exercise of giving thanks seems to have another component: instead of thanking God by giving Him animal sacrifices, we give Him the sacrifice of our praise as well as our good deeds toward others, as well.

In 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, Paul expands on this idea. He writes, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.”

God makes grace and blessings abound to us for a purpose: so that we will be well supplied to give grace and blessings to other people, and in that way cause others to give thanks to God as well. As we consider the many ways in which God has blessed us, let us not overlook the opportunity to consider giving thanks to God by giving to others. In what ways have we been using our abundance to help others? In what ways could we do more? Let us offer God the sacrifice of praise and of sharing and doing good to others.