The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks预览

Grateful Offerings

As a kid, one of my parents would give me money to buy the other parent a gift. Even when I had an allowance or helped around the house, any money used for cards or gifts had to come from my mom or dad.

Like children who borrow a parent’s money to buy them a gift, anything we give to God we first receive from Him. That includes money, time, talents, obedience, or even our prayers and praises. We wouldn’t have breath in our lungs, praise in our hearts, or a dime to our name apart from God’s grace.

In 1 Chronicles 29, David throws a party after commissioning his son Solomon. As he seeks to fund the temple, he doesn’t tax the people or command donations, but he encourages them to give according to what God has given them. Nothing motivates thankfulness and worship of God like remembering God’s goodness and grace.

Grace makes us grateful, and gratitude spawns generosity. Because they believe God provides, it frees them to give back to God. Because they believe God blesses them in countless ways, they thank Him. And because God has fought their battles for them, preserving them to this very day, they give thanks for the past and trust Him for the future.

Don’t forget this is David, the famous king of Israel. Most kings and presidents across history become drunk on power. Others speak their praise and inflate their ego’s. But David stays humble because his eyes remain on God. Knowledge of God provides perspective. He would not be king apart from God. He would not have wealth to give or victories apart from God. Any wisdom, strength, or gifts and abilities David possessed were God given, and he knew it. They were from God, but they pale compared to God.

We either see ourselves as the cause of the good things in our life, which leads to clutching onto them or in pride boasting about them, or we credit God and give Him the glory. We will be self-centered or God-centered, but one of the two will be at the center of everything.

Where in your life have you’ve experienced God’s provision, wisdom, blessing, protection, victory, and strength? What are blessings in your life, big or small?