“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” Luke 6:32-35 [Emphasis mine.]

As Americans gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday there is much cause for gratitude.[1] God’s providential goodness towards His creatures is repeatedly extolled in the Bible. Natural life itself is our Creator’s gift; if we possess eternal life through faith in Christ, moreover, they may also give thanks for full pardon and a righteous standing in the Almighty’s sight – indeed they are blessed with “every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3; John 5:24; John 17:3; Rom. 3:23-26.) Lesser – but still important – temporal blessings like health, food, friends, and family all provide ample cause for thanksgiving today and every day. It is never amiss to thank God for His goodness towards us, as the Psalmist says: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1-2.)
A Thousand, A Thousand Thanksgivings
It is striking to read our Lord’s own description of His Father’s kindness: “. . . He is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Luke 6:35.) He enunciated a similar principle in Matthew 5:43-48, saying: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Emphasis mine.) God gives even to those who are undeserving of His largesse. His generosity flows out of grace: it is unmerited favor lavished on the unworthy. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8.)
Eternal, Unending Kindness
God did not wait for mankind to clean up its collective act, before initiating the plan of salvation. In grace, He shows kindness to the least, even offering His incomparable forgiveness, adoption, and love to those who receive it by faith in His Son (Eph. 2:8-9.) He manifests His grace and goodness by continuing to maintain the universe notwithstanding the deleterious effects of human sin on our world and us. Despite our history of poor choices and bad behavior, He offers us a new creation relationship with Himself (John 17:3; 2 Cor. 5:17.) We may walk with Him in this world, enjoying His friendship, practical provision, and wise guidance (Prov. 3:5-6; 1 Cor. 1:30.) To put it succinctly, we may begin to enjoy Him in this life and continue enjoying Him for all the future eternity.
Now that is cause for Thanksgiving!
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[1] The same applies to our Canadian friends who celebrated their own Thanksgiving holiday in October.