1Thess. 5:18
SUBJECT: Cultivating the Christian Attitude of Thankfulness
THEME: foster the spiritual attitude of Gratitude
by giving thanks to the Lord and expressing appreciation for those who service
our well-being.
INTRODUCTION:
As I
observed previously, an attitude is “a settled way of thinking or
feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a
person's behavior.” We may have a passion for a sport like basketball,
dislike for a certain politician like Speaker Ms. Nancy Pelosi and negativity
toward life in general; each of these are an example of an attitude.
Furthermore,
attitudes can include up to three components: cognitive (thinking), emotional
(feeling), and behavioral. Consider this example: Rachel believes that smoking
is unhealthy, feels disgusted when people smoke around her, and avoids being in
situations where people smoke. This agrees with the view of attitude as “the
position or posture assumed by the body in connection with an action, feeling,
mood, etc.” The question before us is, what do you think, feel and how
do you live out gratitude?
Our
behavior reflects our attitudes (thoughts and feelings) toward the Lord! Godly
changes can begin with honest applications of biblical truth to our attitudes (beliefs,
thoughts, and behaviors). Transformation for us by the Word and grace of God starts
deep within. In addition, the correct attitudes must be cultivated on purpose!
As a
review we are studying three attitudes towards our heavenly Father; the attitudes
are joy, trust (prayer), and thanks (1 Thess.
5:16-18). Our joy,
which strengthens us, is in Him and from Him. Our prayers, which are an
exercise of trust, are directed to Him as our Provider, and finally we offer our
sincerest and most heartfelt thanks to our heavenly Father-God! Let’s explore
the attitude of gratitude today.
FOSTER AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!
1Thes
5:18, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
Thesis: We can
foster the spiritual attitude of Gratitude by giving thanks to the Lord!
I.
Gratitude is
Giving God Thanks and Praise. The Requirement is to Offer Appreciation to God—to
“give thanks”
A. What does “Give” Indicate?
1. The word “give” indicates an
imperative—we are being directed and commanded to show God appreciation.
2. The word “give” (a verb) also
indicates action is required. It is through giving God appreciation that we
practice gratitude and cultivate the attitude of gratitude. This quality of
appreciation is not automatic for us; we tend to be too self-centered.
Gratitude must be deliberately cultivated and fostered in our hearts and through specific practices.
B. What does “Thanks” Mean?
1. Gratitude is the natural
expression of thanks to God in response to blessings, privileges, protection,
or love. Thankfulness. Has not the Lord been very good to us?
2. Thankfulness is to be conscious of
benefits received. God has done great things for us, and we are fully aware of
them and express thanks to him.
C. What is the Opposite of Gratitude?
1. It is ungrateful attitudes (thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors) that ignore God’s majesty, glory, and works—Rejecting
our purpose and opportunities to glorify Him (Rom. 1:21-25).
2. It is attitudes of expecting,
requiring, complaining and demanding more with respect to God and people. This is failing
to reflect on or value what others do for us; it is only valuing what they want
or need while using people to satisfy themselves. As immature believers they
treat God much the same way and are frustrated with Him when God does not
acquiesce to their demands or expectations.
3. It is attitudes of taking God and
people and their contributions for granted…such behaviors are more prevalent because
of ingratitude.
4. It is attitudes of entitlement
and arrogance swelling and becoming more disruptive and destructive to relationships
and society. We feel ourselves entitled like we deserve God’s highest honors,
privileges and blessings. We frequently find ourselves angry with the Lord and even complaining because we are convinced He is not treating us in a manner becoming of someone
of our stature. We are no different than the nine cleansed lepers who failed to
return to thank the Lord Jesus and give Him praise for His exceptional
kindnesses to us (Luke 17:11-19). How important it is that we intentionally
develop an attitude of gratitude!
5. It is attitudes of discouragement
and hopelessness prevailing because we are not balanced with the full spectrum
of spiritual realities and circumstances. We are only focusing on the bad; we have dismissed the reality of hope in the Lord.
II.
Gratitude should
be Expressed in all Circumstances. The Situation is always Appropriate to being
Thankful to God—“in every thing”
A. In Every Thing Really does
Include all Situations and Circumstances
2. Ephesians 5:20, Giving [generously from the heart] thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ[2]
B. Repeatedly, the Lord States how
Appropriate Gratitude is in Various Situations
1. Philippians 4:6, Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.[3]
2. Colossians 3:17, And whatsoever ye
do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him.[4]
C. The Requirement is not to be
Thankful for Everything, but to be
Thankful to God in Everything—whatever the Situation!
1. There are awful developments and
sinful actions we could never ever be thankful for, but we can be thankful unto God still (Eph. 5:20). We are not
thankful for this worldwide killer COVID-19 virus (88,630 deaths), or the 16M jobs lost in the US thus far. We cannot be thankful for over 50 million abortions
in the USA since 1973, or a terrorist who blows up himself among innocent
bystanders. We are not thankful for crazy people who launch a gun assault on
faithful worshipers in a church or among committed Jews gathering at their synagogue.
We are not thankful for 2.3K plus black-on-black homicides annually in the US. God
can be thanked in spite of these sinful occurrences and injustices because He
still offers hope, change, forgiveness, cleansing, and transformation!
2. Idolatry, Blasphemy, Murder,
Adultery, Theft, and Lying we have no requirement to be thankful for these
sins! God never calls upon us to excuse or dismiss sin!
3. The Preacher’s Commentary says, I’m not in agreement with the interpretation of this
phrase that calls us to praise and thank God for literally everything that
happens. I can’t imagine God being thankful for everything that happens. Things
that happen because of the selfishness or sinfulness of ourselves or others
need to be changed, not accepted. I prefer to thank God for being God and to
focus on Him rather than on the things that happen.[5]
4. Hebrews 13:15, By him [Jesus Christ] therefore let us offer the
sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our
lips giving thanks to his name. [6]
D. A High View of God’s Sovereignty
is Necessary to be Thankful in all Situations—God’s administration and
providence provides the bases for such continuing gratitude.
1. This is knowing that God is in
Absolute Control of all things
2. This is knowing that God is
Actively Working to Achieve Good
3. This is full confidence in God’s
relentless Pursuit of His Glory
4. Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his
purpose.[7]
5. Jeremiah 29:11-14, For I know the
thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon
me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And
tye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will
be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I
will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have
driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I
caused you to be carried away captive.[8]
6. Dr. W. MacDonald says in his
commentary, God is working all things together for good to those who love Him,
to those who are called according to His purpose. It may not always seem so!
Sometimes when we are suffering heartbreak, tragedy, disappointment, frustration,
and bereavement, we wonder what good can come out of it. But the following
verse gives the answer: whatever God permits to come into our lives is designed
to conform us to the image of His Son. When we see this, it takes the question
mark out of our prayers. Our lives are not controlled by impersonal forces such
as chance, luck, or fate, but by our wonderful, personal Lord, who is “too
loving to be unkind and too wise to err.”[9]
E. The Great Patriarch Job
Illustrates the way of Gratitude in the Worst of Situations—He experienced the
deaths of all his adult children and complete financial ruin in one day. Yet,
Job did not hesitate to bless and thank God for who he is!
1. Then Job arose, and rent his
mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And
said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither:
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In
all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.[10]
III.
Gratitude is
God’s Plan for His Children. The Reasoning is God Prescribes Gratitude for all
Believers—“for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus”
A. God wills that we become people
of Gratitude
B. God knows it is very Healthy for
us to Recognize the Good He is doing and the Hope He Creates in this World
C. Christ Jesus affords the context
for becoming people of Gratitude
1. He is the ultimate Person of
Gratitude—He modeled and exemplified thankfulness
2. He provides the Power and
Resources to Foster spiritual Gratitude
D. Our worship will be Transformed
and Fueled by Frequent Reflections on God’s Activities, Attention, and
Administrations.
E. God is most Interested in our
Well-being and Gratitude can Transform the Climate in our Souls and the
Condition of our Relationships
CONCLUSION:
Beloved,
how often do we overlook His blessings? How many times do we forget to say,
“Thank You, Lord?” How frequently do we require more and expect more, but have so
little desire to utter the words, “Thank you” to our God?
The Lord Jesus was
hurt to see only one cleansed leper return…it disturbed him deeply. He even verbalized
his pain in Luke 17:17-18. Please note carefully what transpired, in Luke 17:14b-19,
And it came to pass,
that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them,
when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified
God, 16 And fell down
on his face at his feet, giving him
thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering
said, Were there not ten cleansed? but
where are the nine? 18 There
are not found that returned to give
glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto
him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.[12]
Are we
among those who at least occasionally fall on our faces giving God thanks and
glory? Certainly, we have much to be grateful for!
Our
lives will be significantly transformed if we took these basic instructions
seriously making them an integral part of our daily walk. Every Christian’s life
should be distinguished by gratitude. Depression, anxiety, and ingratitude are
not Christian at all. While life presents many serious tensions for us all, we
can still choose to be appreciative to the Lord.
We will become
living commercials of God’s craftsmanship commending Him to everyone we touch.
I truly believe more people would be influenced and drawn to Christ as Savior
through our lifestyle of appreciation. Make the decision to live with a thankful
heart and praise on our lips. Gratitude is a choice!
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 34:1).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 5:20).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 4:6).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Col 3:17).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[5]
Demarest, G. W., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1984). 1, 2 Thessalonians / 1, 2 Timothy / Titus
(Vol. 32, p. 99). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.
[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Heb 13:15).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[7] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 8:28).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[8] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Je 29:11–14).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[9]
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments.
(A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1712). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[10] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Job 1:20–22).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[11] The Holy Bible: King James Version.
(2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 113:2).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[12] The Holy Bible:
King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version., Lk 17:14–19). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
