2 Corinthians 4:15
Thanksgiving to God
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
James 1:17
All Good Things Come from Above
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Romans 8:28
God Works for the Good in All Things
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
When I hear the term giving thanks, I think of giving thanks to God...We can and often do give thanks to other people for help or for something done, but God is often involved in those thankful moments also...After all God is involved in all things by those who love Him...So when we are thankful it is most often thankful for something and for believers being thankful and grateful is mostly directed to God...
There is one holiday where we might think of thanks in a general way...But when believers sit down to eat their Thanksgiving Day meal, they direct their thanks and thoughts to God...When one does not believe in God, they give their thanks in this general way and not necessarily directed toward anyone...
Cornelius Plantinga, who taught at Calvin Seminary, was quoted as saying, "It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular...Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on Thanksgiving Day...Everyone in the institution seems to be thankful 'in general.'...It's very strange...It's a little like being married in general."...