Saying Grace

Only if the said Christian feels absolutely no thankfulness toward God and His abundant provision, in which case I would seriously wonder if the said individual truly knew just Who the Lord is.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I don't think it is wrong or a sin, as long as you thank Him at some point during the day. Some people say it to themselves too, kind of shy that way or something.
Although we do say Grace before Dinner but you know now that I think about it that is the only meal we say it at. Wow that is kind of bad.

 

As I have been in other countries I have noticed that grace before meals is often an American custom. But it is also an American custom to watch football and go shopping on Sunday. I have been told by those who serve tables at restaurants that often Sunday is the worst day for tips.

Just because it is a custom to say a prayer does not mean thanks is given. My parents came from poor families and my mother drilled into us the idea that it was sin to waste food. We may pray a prayer of thanks and then waste food as though we are not grateful for the precious gift of food that God has given.

 

in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thess 5:18. The wrongdoing would be the ingratitude, not in the omitted act of not saying a prayer at the table.

 

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Just because it is a custom to say a prayer does not mean thanks is given. My parents came from poor families and my mother drilled into us the idea that it was sin to waste food. We may pray a prayer of thanks and then waste food as though we are not grateful for the precious gift of food that God has given. [/QB][/QUOTE]

I think sometimes Grace is said without much thought, it just becomes a rythmic doing. Shameful as it is.

 

How true Angie... I've caught myself many times in the "habit" of saying grace... Almost like a ritual... with no thought given.

Having said that, there have been several "lows" in my life when saying grace became just about the only life line I had back to God.

 

Not saying grace before a meal is no more sinful than not saying a prayer at any other time.

Of course, if one is in the habit of not saying a prayer, that is a sin.

If one has an expectation of one's self that a prayer will always be said at every meal then it could be a sin to omit the prayer.

 

When I was a child I went for a week thirsty in a hospital. I had to wait and wait to get a drink. I never forgot it. My sisters joke about me always making sure no one around me is ever thirsty or hungry.

We always bless our food. But not for the sake of saying the words. I am truly thankful for everything, because everything we have is given by God. I don't forget that there are those with nothing to eat. We were raised to be frugal so I am careful not to waste food. One thing our dad taught us by example was to feed people. I associate hunger with intense thirst so it seems natural for me to feed people. I have shared my last bit of food many times. But have not had to beg bread because of God's loving care. I wasn't aware blessing our food was only a custom.

 

I have to be careful to not be like the Pharisees who when they prayed, sought to be noticed by man. In public I am always more restrained by that. I give thanks in secret and I work hard at that. There is plenty of time to give thanks for a meal. It doesn't have to be just seconds before the first bite and it doesn't have to be a show. A simple thank you to God when no one is looking should get noticed only by God. That is my hope.

On the other hand I also have to be careful not to judge those who are more noticeable when they give thanks.

I just know myself too well. As long as I live in this earthly body, I live with a deceitful man who seeks not the things of God, but the things of man. My spiritual man fights him constantly.

The worst thing I could do is just not be thankful at all.

Wouldn't it be silly to give thanks for any meal and then easily find something to complain about? That would be a real clue about how thankless I really am though I acted outwardly thankful. That is evidence to me that I am being deceived. I've done it too. My meal comes and something isn't right and I am tempted to become angry or ungrateful. I must fight that and be content. My Father is always watching me everywhere I go and in everything I do. He doesn't miss a thing.

If in anything, I complain or gripe (for my own satisfaction and vindication), then I should know that I am not grateful to God for that thing.

Dave.

 

Only if your wife cooked the meal!

I always thank God for my meals, but then, I thank God for everything because He is the giver of all things.

I see nothing wrong with saying grace in a restaurant and then sending the steak back because it is too rare.

I am thanking God for the steak, not the way it was cooked.

 

With all the classic art from history, which depicts people at harvest time thanking God for their harvest, an elderly man "Saying Grace" over his loaf of bread, and a little girl giving thanks while receiving a dainty tray of food while her pets look on, I have trouble believing that saying grace over meals is an "American custom."
The Dutch used to say grace before and after meals. (I don't know if that's still the custom in Christian homes there, or not.)
It is biblical Christianity to thank God for our food. Look at Jesus--He took bread and broke it and gave thanks. Not just at the Lord's Supper, but numerous times when He was preparing to eat, He did so. We should do no less than our Master, and with glad and grateful hearts!
Are you thankful for a glass of clean water? Consider all the people in the world who die of dyssentry because of impure water.
Here's an interesting link that admonishes us to even drink orange juice to the glory of God!
http://www.truespirituality.com/
Oh how thankful we should be for all that our Father in heaven has given us!