Gratitude: Perspective

Gratitude has the ability to change our perspective

Every year theres a phemoninon

A moment where Americans the very day after a national holiday celebrating gratitude

rush into shopping centers and onto their computers

to buy things that they didn’t know that they needed

Black friday is a time

where we rapidly watch the gratitude of thanksgiving

be consumed by our consumerism

And so this season that was intended to display our gratitude

shows our lack of contentment

We are in a country and community of blessing

but gratitude still doesn’t always define our perspective

Let me make it a little more personal

If you make more that $25,000 you make more money that 90% of the world

If you make $50,000 you make more money that 99% of the world

This room is very likely full of people who are part of the top 10% or top 1% most wealthy people on the planet

And yet even in the midst of this blessing we find ourselves wanting more

And if we’re honest gratitude is not something that defines our perspective

But In the book of Job we see something Powerful

We see a man who’s gratitude defines his perspective

Even though his circumstances are challenging

Right before the verse we will be reading we see that

Job has lost the majority of his possessions

Job 1:18–21 (NLT)

While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,

and I will be naked when I leave.

The Lord gave me what I had,

and the Lord has taken it away.

Praise the name of the Lord!”

His gratitude isn’t rooted in His curcumstances

But it diffines His perspective

Isn’t it incredible that

Job can find gratitude the very moment after discovering that His children have died

While we have a hard time being grateful in the midst of blessing

Job can be grateful

because His gratitude is found in His creator

chages his perspective

Let us live the words of

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Today allow Gratitude that is rooted in your creator

to change your perspective

Prayer