“To whom much is given, much is expected,” a paraphrase of what Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 12:48, has been widely considered a needed reminder of how we ought to live. Before the verse, Jesus had just told a parable about a master finding his servant ready and working diligently (Luke 12:35-40). In response, Peter asked if the parable was for them all (Luke 12:41). Jesus answered by setting a negative contrast to the good servant: one who beats his fellow servants and thus incurs a terrible judgment (Luke 12:45-47). It is in light of this that Jesus says what he does in Luke 12:48.
Sure, Peter, the parable speaks to all of us, as we all fail spectacularly at being found ready. Yes, we are those who are given much but fail at meeting any of the requirements or expectations of “the much.” This is true because we fail in doing a simple yet key thing. We are those who fail to be thankful.
How often have you thanked God for all he has given you? Have you ever prayed a prayer of thanksgiving? If yes, would you say that the whole prayer was purely thanksgiving, or did you veer into asking God for things? If the answer is no, you are not alone. I have failed at this more times than I’d wish to admit.
The Adoration That is Thanksgiving
It is hard for us to be thankful, yet thanksgiving is part of “the much” expected of us because of “the much” given to us. As the title of this article should have already caused you to guess, there is a scriptural correlation between thanksgiving and glorifying God. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me” (Psalm 50:23). We are called to be those who are filled with thankfulness as part of our walk with God and our prayer. Therefore, continuing with our consideration of the ‘ACT’ in ACTS, we shift our focus to thanksgiving. My aim is to show from the Scriptures that a thankful heart glorifies God, for such a heart strives to heed the expectations of the much entrusted to us.
However, as has been the case twice before, we must define our subject. Thanksgiving is simply an expression of gratitude. In Hebrew, however, the meaning is more profound, as it essentially translates to praise. Thus, true thanksgiving, according to Scripture, isn’t dour. Instead, it is being filled with joy at what God has done. In this way, it is similar to adoration. Yet unlike adoration, which praises God for who he is, thanksgiving praises God for what he has done.
We Give Thanks Because of Grace
From that definition alone, I’m sure you see why it is part of “the much that is expected from us.” However, let’s look at Scripture to see it in greater detail. Scripture is rife with commands for us to be a thankful people. In Psalm 100:4, probably the most famous Scripture on thanksgiving, we are commanded to “enter his gates with thanksgiving.” As the Psalmist says, we are to give thanks for his goodness to us (Psalm 100:5). We are to give thanks for his love for us (Psalm 100:5). Moreover, we give thanks that he made us (Psalm 100:3).
Why do we give thanks for these things? Because we deserve none of them. God has no obligation to be good to people who go out of their way to reject him (Psalm 53:1). He has no obligation to love people who hate him (Psalm 139:20). Most of all, we did nothing to earn our existence, and yet we exist because of him. In short, since all of our lives are acts of grace and mercy, we ought to go out of our way to thank God for those acts.
Our Prayers Should Be Thankful
Even when we are asking or petitioning, it ought to be filled with thanksgiving. To the Philippians, Paul writes, “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Their supplication ought to be coupled “with thanksgiving.” It isn’t an either-or but a both-and. Scripture envisions us as more than those who merely ask; we are also thankful for what we already have. It is easy to get bogged down in what we need; we forget how much we already have. As Paul indicates, guarding our hearts and minds in Jesus is impossible without incorporating thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Aids Our Godliness
Simply put, peaceful people are thankful people. This is even made clearer in our day-to-day interactions. Those who are thankful, despite or even because of their circumstances, tend to be the happiest. Those who are less thankful are usually the most anxious. That’s because their desire for more keeps them from seeing what they already have. Scripture asks us not to be blinded to the good that God has done.
Just like the Israelites (Ezra 3:11), our mouths should echo with adoration of God’s goodness toward us. Every time they were filled with praise for God’s goodness, their eyes were fixed upon him. However, every time they were more concerned about what they lacked or faced, i.e., the Egyptians (Exodus 14:11-12), food (Exodus 16:3), a desire to be like the nations (1 Samuel 8:5, 19-20), they rejected God, stopped trusting in him, and turned their gaze from him to their plight. The result? Their desire to be like the nations led them to live like the nations, and they began worshipping other gods. Their lives were no longer rightly ordered. Instead of seeing God’s salvation, they were judged accordingly.
Magnify God By Giving Thanks
Dear saint, much has been given to you. One of the best ways to meet the expectations set for you is to be thankful. It helps to keep you focused not on the things of earth but the things above (Colossians 3:2). This is especially true of our salvation. We were bought at a price, Jesus’ sacrifice, and therefore, we are to glorify God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). One of the best ways to stay focused on that is to be ever grateful for the salvation afforded to us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. For it is through his work that God’s steadfast love endures forever.
If you struggle with thanksgiving, use the aid of the scriptures. Psalms 30:1-12; 34:1-8; 92:1-5; 100:1-5; 103:1-22; 136:1-26 are among the many you could turn to. Another way to get help with giving thanks is to pray. Ask God to help you to always be thankful for the good he has done and continues to do for you. Ask him to transform your heart into one that yearns for thanksgiving. As far as it depends on you, always “praise the name of God with a song; [and to] magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30).