Romans 14:6 "...and he gives thanks to God."

[GracePeace]

Question : Why does the person "give thanks" after he walks in his conviction?

I wanted to discuss this aspect of the Gospel (the Gospel is the power of God, because "in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith"--contrasted against "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof")--walking in one's convictions, "fully convinced in one's own mind" (v5)--because when one realizes they are called to walk in faith ("which works by love" (Gal 5)), and that it affects your standing before God (v23 "condemned" means you're not "justified"--corresponding with justification of "doers of the Law" at the upcoming judgment (Ro 2)), it is easy to slip into fear, whereas the person who succeeds in walking in his convictions is described "giving thanks to God".

The guy doesn't say, "Phew, I did the right thing, so, for now, I'm not in trouble!" Rather, he "gives thanks".

So, my question is about why the person who walks in his convictions gives thanks, because I think it speaks to a motive that is other than fear.

Elsewhere, Paul defends his choice to eat certain foods by the mere fact that he "gives thanks". I don't know, but I don't think he's giving thanks because the food is tasty; because of the context, it sounds like he is giving thanks because he is bringing glory to God, as it says in Ro 5 "this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of God's glory", and "we, by the Spirit, by faith, await the hope of righteousness". In both cases, righteousness is looked at as something we look forward to with hope, seemingly because our righteousness brings glory to God ("let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven"), and we delight in glorifying God--and maybe Paul is saying that the giving of thanks is because we got to delight in glorifying God (?)--righteous requirements of God are not viewed with dread, and, after what was required is accomplished, we say, "Phew, I've escaped condemnation (for now)!" That sounds more like a slave, who wants to escape a beating by an austere master, not the words of a son who trusts his father.

What do you think the reason for "giving thanks" is? I'd like to hear.

ESV Romans 14
6The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

NASB Romans 14
6The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, does so with regard to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God.

BSB Romans 14
6He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

YLT Romans 14
6He who is regarding the day, to the Lord he doth regard it, and he who is not regarding the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He who is eating, to the Lord he doth eat, for he doth give thanks to God; and he who is not eating, to the Lord he doth not eat, and doth give thanks to God.

 

[Windmill Charge]

As always context is key.
Read the whole paragraph:-
"One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living."

We are being told we don't live to please self but to serve God and we are grateful for what God has done for us and for the opertunity to serve.

 

[GracePeace]

We are being told we don't live to please self but to serve God and we are grateful for what God has done for us and for the opertunity to serve.

Sounds similar to the conclusion of the OP.

Thanks

 

[Lambano]

Simple answer: This section is about Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians and how to be one "body", even when individual members follow separate customs. Whether your brother or sister is eating kosher or non-kosher, the important thing to recognize is that THEY also acknowledge that their food comes from the same God yours does, and BOTH accept God's provision with humble gratitude.

The humility part is important, since it addresses the attitude of superiority we humans typically have when observing others with different customs.

So don't forget to say grace.

 

[GracePeace]

Simple answer: This section is about Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians and how to be one "body", even when individual members follow separate customs. Whether your brother or sister is eating kosher or non-kosher, the important thing to recognize is that THEY also acknowledge that their food comes from the same God yours does, and BOTH accept God's provision with humble gratitude.

The humility part is important, since it addresses the attitude of superiority we humans typically have when observing others with different customs.

So don't forget to say grace.

You raise a good point : the giving of thanks is only said to follow the eating of food--even when Paul eats the food in 1 Co, he gives thanks--not after other acts of faith. Therefore, it seems giving of thanks really is because of the food itself.

I had something else in mind, bc of the context of 1 Co, but this is a good point.

Thank you.

 

[GracePeace]

Simple answer: This section is about Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians and how to be one "body", even when individual members follow separate customs. Whether your brother or sister is eating kosher or non-kosher, the important thing to recognize is that THEY also acknowledge that their food comes from the same God yours does, and BOTH accept God's provision with humble gratitude.

The humility part is important, since it addresses the attitude of superiority we humans typically have when observing others with different customs.

So don't forget to say grace.

You raise a good point : the giving of thanks is only said to follow the eating of food--even when Paul eats the food in 1 Co, he gives thanks--not after other acts of faith. Therefore, it seems giving of thanks really is because of the food itself.

I had something else in mind, bc of the context of 1 Co, but this is a good point.

Thank you.

This is why I like discussion : I can outsource help to find my errors, so I can improve.