Throw Your Thanks Upon the Lord

How Real Gratitude Is More Than an Expression

In our last article, I talked about impatience as the product of endless development in a movement of “progress” toward nowhere. Impatience caused society to move so fast that everyone forgot about the meaningful things in life.

Christ, of course, is the antidote. And we touched on how, but in this article, I want to get more specific.

The antidote to impatience is wholesome appreciation, or thanksgiving, for things that are timeless. That’s how you become timeless. And most people are doing thanksgiving wrong.

Thanksgiving appears throughout the Bible countless times. It’s everywhere. Built into the fabric of salvation and sanctification.

Christians and Israel before them are called to offer thanks to God for everything. To heap up gratefulness for his wonderful deeds and promises. To incorporate the attitude of endearment into our daily lives.

To become content with what they have in this world and seek first the kingdom of God.

Modern culture, however, has watered down the act of giving thanks. The fact that it is called “giving” thanks is a sign of our failure to appreciate its eternal significance.

The ancient Hebrew term todah (give thanks or thanksgiving) comes from the term yadah (throw or cast). The English rendition of “giving” doesn’t capture the full force of the words.

God wanted the Israelites to appreciate him with force and conviction.

That might not seem like much of a change. But picture this.

A homeless man came up to me once begging for cash. I gave him the cash, out of compassion, but I was annoyed that he interrupted my evening with family and friends. I also just knew he would take the money and use it unwisely, even though I had no evidence of that, and my preconceptions caused me to disdain him.

Everything I did was mere movement.

There was no celebration of a life potentially changed for the better. Maybe he would use it for good and turn his life around. Even though it’s rare, some homeless are down on their luck and ready to put in the work to reform and build a better future for themselves.

But I was so caught up in what I imagined would happen that our exchange wasn’t real. Because I was just giving. Not throwing.

Giving is passive. Throwing has energy.

Because throwing comes from the heart. That’s the incredible difference everyone always misses. And it took the Savior to point this out to us.

Jesus clashed with the Pharisees not because they were doing wrong by the Law, but because they weren’t internalizing it. Their focus was on the Law itself and not the God behind it. They were putting on a show. Being hypocrites.

The Greek word hypocrites was most commonly used to describe an actor or pretender. Someone who was fake. Living with a mask on. Paul later describes such people as wolves in sheep’s clothing. John calls them “lukewarm.”

Much of the church and society today is the same way. We prioritize the big shiny stuff the world offers while ignoring the gifts God has given us, our families, and the mission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

For all intents and purposes, we operate as Christians in name only.

And when we are thankful, there’s no force behind it. We speak the words, “Thank you, Jesus,” as a weak quip, when it’s meant to be a celebration. Your Savior and King who rescued you from eternal damnation should excite you. Move you unto unending praise.

He’s not just your Sunday God. He’s the ruler of the cosmos.

The cornerstone. Your eternal foundation.

Without him, you would remain in death. Forever.

Yet you forget him more often than you forget to pack your kids lunch for school. Attend soccer games. Play golf with the boys. Have book club with the girls.

Thanksgiving may be an official holiday, but it’s supposed to be a lifestyle. The more you throw thanks at God, the more you love this world as he loves it and want to see it saved.

The more you slow down and appreciate every facet of beauty weaved into his precious creation.

If you’re feeling stressed and hopeless, it’s likely because you aren’t really thankful. Not with any amount of passion that matters. You’re pretending and fighting when you should be surrendering.

Your challenge this Thanksgiving Day is to make your thankfulness real, tangible, unforgettable, and timeless. Document who and what you are thankful for. Start with God. Make a long list (mentally or in writing, recommended) and pray over it daily. Change it when necessary.

Always think of why you are thankful and express your thankfulness whenever you can. Tell God. Tell that other person. Celebrate as much as possible. And watch your complaints disappear.

Bury them in the grave with your sins and never look back. And if you still struggle, never stop praying to him for a new heart. Ask and you shall receive.

Take your seat at the banquet table of the heavens and your blessings will appreciate tenfold. Appreciation goes beyond earthly wealth. It is God’s interest. If you invest in him entirely, he will make good on your returns.

He already did the hard work. You just have to believe, follow wherever he leads, and heap up mounds of gratitude for the victory he’s assured. That is your good and holy work. The race marked out for you.

And the rewards are indescribable.