Topical Bible: Thankfulness: should Always Accompany Praise

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Thankfulness is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, intricately linked with the act of praise. The Scriptures consistently emphasize that gratitude should accompany our expressions of worship and adoration toward God. This principle is rooted in the understanding of God's sovereignty, goodness, and the manifold blessings He bestows upon His people.

Biblical Foundation

The Psalms, often referred to as the hymnbook of ancient Israel, frequently couple thankfulness with praise. Psalm 100:4 instructs believers to "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name." This verse highlights the inseparable nature of gratitude and praise, suggesting that true worship involves acknowledging God's goodness with a thankful heart.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul reiterates this connection. In Colossians 3:16-17 , he writes, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Here, Paul underscores that thankfulness is not only a component of worship through song but also a guiding principle in all aspects of life.

Theological Significance

Thankfulness in the context of praise acknowledges God's rightful place as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. It is an expression of humility, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). By coupling thankfulness with praise, believers affirm their dependence on God and their trust in His providence.

Moreover, thankfulness serves as a safeguard against pride and self-sufficiency. When believers express gratitude, they are reminded of their own limitations and the boundless grace of God. This attitude fosters a spirit of worship that is genuine and heartfelt, as opposed to one that is merely ritualistic or self-centered.

Practical Application

Incorporating thankfulness into praise can transform both personal and corporate worship experiences. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a habit of gratitude, reflecting on God's past faithfulness and present blessings. This practice not only enriches worship but also strengthens faith, as it shifts focus from temporal circumstances to the eternal nature of God's character.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, exhorts them to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This directive highlights the importance of maintaining a thankful heart, regardless of life's challenges, as an integral part of living out one's faith.

Conclusion

The biblical mandate to pair thankfulness with praise is clear and compelling. It is a call to recognize God's goodness and to respond with a heart full of gratitude. As believers engage in worship, both individually and collectively, they are invited to enter into a deeper relationship with God, marked by a continual acknowledgment of His grace and mercy.

Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 92:1
IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:
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Hebrews 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
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Library

Thankfulness for Mercies Received, a Necessary Duty
... abundantly I love you, the less I should be loved ... to your promises, you show forth
your thankfulness, not only ... may bear long, he will not forbear always; and if ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/thankfulness for mercies received a.htm

Centenary Commemoration
... me will be accomplished; not as it should have been ... and sometimes by a small wig"
always quiet and ... joy and doubt, hopes and fears, thankfulness and uncertainty ...
/.../centenary commemoration 2.htm

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for ...
... all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every ... first of all to manifest his thankfulness
therefor; toward ... Christianity should be begun in youth, to give practice ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty second sunday after trinity.htm

Preached on Occasion of the Death of the Rev. Mr. John Fletcher ...
... not to allow the thought; declaring his thankfulness for our ... you.' She added, O my
dear master, should you be ... be her all in all.' He had always delighted much ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 133 preached on occasion.htm

Summa Theologica
... Whether sacred doctrine is a matter of argument? Whether Holy Scripture should
use metaphors? ... Whether the will of God is always fulfilled? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/

A Practical Discourse on Some Principles of Hymn-Singing
... OF JOY in the mind: such JOY AND THANKFULNESS to God ... fashion, always pleased with
themselves, and always to be ... me to say much that otherwise I should not have ...
/.../a practical discourse on some.htm

Home Occupations and Travels in England and Wales.
... My heart was humbled in reverent thankfulness to the Father ... was my prayer at the
time, and always has been ... had been to find a Greek who should accompany them as ...
/.../chapter x home occupations and.htm

John 7:37-38. "Let any Man Come. "
... I fear God has a controversy with us for our un-thankfulness! ... has once said He will
do them, have always come to ... Yet God said they should be, and in due time ...
/.../chapter vii john 7 37-38 let.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... whereby our hearts being once softened, may be always kept so ... 1. In his thankfulness
for natural life ... upon others, but he counts of right he should be swallowed ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

From his Commission to Reside Abroad in 1820 to his Removal to ...
... to Him on whose bosom I trust she has always rested; for ... But should it please him
to permit that I go down ... for them; and then let the tear of thankfulness fall ...
/.../chapter iii from his commission.htm