Among human beings, giving thanks is a matter of politeness, an acknowledgment of some act of kindness or generosity. With God, it’s that and so much more. It’s recognition of his goodness and how thoroughly we depend on him. It’s an alignment with the truth of who he is. It’s a highway into deeper fellowship with him. And it’s always right and good.
But there’s more. When we express our gratitude to God, we open doors into more experiences of his goodness. It’s often said that whatever we focus on grows larger, in our own eyes and in our experience, and it’s true. Gratitude is focusing on God’s goodness, and it causes our experience of his goodness to grow. When we open our hearts and give thanks, we give him pleasure. And with open hearts and a pleasing response, he is all the more pleased to give even more.
Is that our motive for gratitude—to receive more in the future? Of course not. But it’s a beautiful blessing that accompanies it. God is extravagant with us because it’s his nature. That’s who he is. An extravagant response says, “Yes, I know. And I am so deeply grateful.”
