Prayer

5. Must a Christian give thanks to God (or say grace) before he eats?

Of course, he must, because that’s what Jesus Christ did, as it is written: “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would” (John 6:11). Paul also gave thanks before eating, as it is written: “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat” (Acts 27:35).

That saying grace before breakfast or lunch or supper was something done by the early Christians is confirmed by the following words of Paul to Timothy: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). For, as you can see, Paul says that what we eat is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, and which prayer but that said before we eat?

Therefore it is a good thing to say grace, it is right to give thanks to Him who, as it is written in the Psalms, “causes the grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart” (Psalm 104:14-15 – NKJV).

We receive all the things we eat from God, and therefore it is to Him we must give thanks for our daily food.

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