The Bible’s call to gratitude is overwhelmingly vertical:  we’re charged and moved to thank GOD.  Of course, it’s right and good to thank to each other; gratitude toward family and friends and our fellow church members is a vital ingred­i­ent in spiritually maturing relation­ships.  But thanks to God is primary!  Consider:

• I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart… (Ps 9:1).
• I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations (Ps 57:9—thanks as witness).
• I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever (Ps 86:12).
• Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for­ever (Ps 136:1).
• Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Jer 33:11).
• For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Rom 1:21).
• But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:57).
• We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mention­ing you in our prayers… (1 Thess 1:2).
• We give thanks to you, Lord God… who is and who was, for you have taken your great power & begun to reign (Rev 11:17).

Also, not only is biblical gratitude predominantly vertical, but typically it involves thanks FOR spiritual bounty overflowing from the heart of God—for grace, love, forgiveness, and acceptance forever.  So remem­ber, if your gratitude this Thanks­giving is all taken up with hearth, home, harvest, and health, ask God to help you pause and put first things first.  And then, lift up your eyes beyond those temporal blessings, and let this be a season of sweet gratitude for the redeeming love of Jesus!