From gift to Giver: Rejoicing in God Himself

Harvest thanksgiving services are less common nowadays. We tend to be urbanised – removed from the farm and the countryside, and simply taking for granted the provision of our daily food.

But as Christians we should be glad of any opportunity for thanksgiving. Our thankfulness sets us apart from the unbeliever who refuses to give thanks (Rom.1v21).

Giving thanks is more than just saying “thank you” for our daily bread (although that is important). We can reflect on those who are in need, and especially brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted and suffering hardship.

But supremely, thanksgiving leads us to rejoice in God Himself. Our focus shifts from the gift to the Giver. The world in which we live is a demonstration of the glory of God. As we reflect on the created world, we are prompted to worship. Whether it be David gazing at the stars in Psalm 8, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”, or reflecting on his own physical body “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Ps.139v14). Before Jonathan Edwards was converted he was terrified by thunderstorms, but as a believer he rejoiced in them. He wrote: “I felt God, so to speak, at the first appearance of a thunder storm; and used to take the opportunity, at such times, to fix myself in order to view the clouds, and see the lightnings play, and hear the majestic and awful voice of God’s thunder, which oftentimes was exceedingly entertaining, leading me to sweet contemplations of my great and glorious God.”

We rejoice in the greatness of God, but also give thanks for His faithfulness, His grace and kindness to us. And we are prompted then to reflect on the spiritual lessons of our daily bread. Remember that the manna in the wilderness was given to teach the Israelites that “… man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut.8v3). While on the one hand we savour the good things of life as gracious gifts of from the hand of the Lord, we understand that our chief delight is not in these gifts, but in the Giver Himself. The Lord Jesus would rather deny Himself bread than deny obedience to the Father. So also for the believer who would rather be teetotal or vegetarian than be a stumbling block to another (Rom.4v21). Or who embraces fasting to focus on prayer.

When we embrace such thankfulness, far from being focused on material things such as food and drink, we rejoice in God Himself. And we are reminded of the purpose of our own creation, and indeed the purpose of our lives, to live for the praise of His glory.