Thankfulness is a Positive Practice

  • The most common word for thanks, 55 times, is from the root eucharist, used as a noun, verb, or adjective: to give thanks, to thank, or to be thankful.
  • Grace (charis) and thanks (eucharis) appear to have something in common.  However, the parts of a word may or may not contribute to a definition (example, funeral begins with fun).
    • The prefix, eu, generally stands for good or well done.
    • So, if indeed the parts of the word indicate its meaning, thanks may be seen as a response to “grace done well.”
    • Grace, or, more exactly, the collection of character traits that make up a gracious nature includes patience, kindness, gentleness, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy.  These traits moderate the potentially strict characteristic of justice.
    • In each occurrence of eucharis, the graciousness of God is in the context, so the connection of “thank” and “grace” is justified.
  • In the Old Testament, thanks came from eulogia, “the Word done well.”  So, thanks to God seemed more for the concepts and philosophy of God than the grace of God.
  • Examples of thanks:
    • 1 Corinthians 1:4  I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:15 – 16, Philippians 1:3, Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:13, Philemon 4)
    • 2 Corinthians 1:11  …you also helping in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf for the gift granted to us through many
    • 2 Corinthians 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:11 – 12  …you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
    • Ephesians 5:4  …but rather the giving of thanks
    • Ephesians 5:20  …giving thanks always for all things to God
    • Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
    • Colossians 1:12  …giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers…
    • Colossians 2:7  …rooted and built up in Him…abounding with thanksgiving.
    • Colossians 3:15  Let the peace of God rule in your hearts…and be thankful
    • Colossians 3:17  …do all in the name of the Lord, giving thanks
    • Colossians 4:2  Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:18   …in everything give thanks
    • 1 Timothy 2:1  I exhort…that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men
  • Summary
    • Thanks is an essential part of prayer to relieve stress and handle governments.
    • Thanks (and joy) should be the result of seeing the successes of faith.