What are the bible proverbs about gratitude? Find out in this article with commentary on each verse.
Introduction
In the Hebrew culture, gratitude means recognizing the good (recognizing the goodness of God). The word expresses thankfulness and praise. As believers, we profess gratitude and express it to God. Gratitude has a dual purpose. It is an expression to God, and it also benefits the one who expresses it. When we express gratitude to God, He blesses us. The Hebrew physical expression of gratitude is when we are on our knees praying to God.Â
5 Bible proverbs about gratitude
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Honoring God with your wealth and your profit is a way of showing Him gratitude for everything that He has done for you. It is thanking God for your everyday needs. The word honor in this verse means to worship. We worship God with our wealth, but we do not worship wealth. Honoring God with the first fruits is prioritizing Him. He comes first, and He is the first to be honored before we pay the monthly bills. This is telling God that you are grateful for His generosity, and how He provides every day for you.
In return, God reciprocates and rewards those who show their gratitude to Him. He blesses them with more wealth. God’s blessings are abundant and they overflow. But this abundant blessing is because of the humility and‌ a heart of gratitude that honors God. Genuine gratitude moves God.Â
Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
Everybody is grateful for a good report. In fact, an excellent report brings health and renewal to a person. The good news of the gospel is uplifting both spiritually and physically. As Christians, we are grateful for the gospel. Being grateful for the gospel draws us near to God and it strengthens our relationship with Him.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
The best way a child can show gratitude to how a parent raised them is by being faithful to the principles that they were taught. People assume that children who are raised in the instructions of God do not stray from the faith. This is a wrong assumption.
So having a child who stays on the path of the Lord, keeping God’s principles until old age, is a way of honoring the parents and showing gratitude for their teachings. The role of the parent is to show their children the correct path of life. When the child listens, takes the path and stays on it, that shows gratitude.
Proverbs 22:11
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
A pure heart comes from prayer. Therefore, a gracious speech coming from a prayerful heart is speech that is kind, uplifting, and encouraging. Even kings appreciate gracious speech. It is easier to talk to a person with earnest words that are meant to build and not to harm. One king of kings who is moved by gratitude is Jesus. In the book of Luke 17, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one leper returned to thank Him. The leper was so grateful that he threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him. That is genuine gratitude from the heart. Jesus recognized the gratitude of this one leper and blessed him.
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Kindness that goes out of a man to another man is gratitude coming alive. Sharpening each other is a form of reciprocating kindness to a good friend. No one spends time on someone they do not care about, let alone correct, encourage, or even challenge them. Sharpening each other implies an effective relationship where two people genuinely care about each other and show their gratitude for each other by building each other’s characters. This is not a one-way relationship. The two friends want wants best for each other hence they take turns to sharpen each other.
Conclusion
Gratitude is deep. It is more than a thank you. When a person is thankful, they may do what is culturally expected of them. You are expected to say thank you when someone gives you a gift. It does not matter whether or not you like the gift; it is expected of you to say thank you. Saying thank you does not mean you are grateful. Gratefulness goes deeper hence, it is an appreciation that honours God. Gratefulness commits God to do more because He sees the sincere and honest gratitude in your heart.Â
