A Lineage of Gratefulness

What is gratefulness?

Dictionary: Warm and deep appreciation for kindness recieved.

G. K. Chesterton once said that “gratefulness is thanksgiving mixed with wonder” in other words; we are grateful because of what God has done- thats the thanksgiving part; but there is also some wonder in gratefulness because being grateful propels us to look into the future and how we expect God to continue to make good on his promises.

Old Proverb:

Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.

AW Tozer once said "Gratitude is a way of life, a temper of being, an index to spiritual health."

I like to say that gratefulness is the fuel of worship. When we are grateful to God the natural response is to worship. Consider the words of the great hymn How Great Thou Art; these words are a great example of gratitude as fuel for worship:

Oh Lord, my God When I, in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, in humble adoration And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Growing up with a wood stove

Anyone here grow up with a wood stove or have one now? I did, and you know what they say about wood heat, right? There is no other heat like it and if you grow up with wood heat it almost feels- incomplete to have anything else. I think the same thing can be said about growing up a culture of gratefulness.

Most homes either have a culture of gratefulness or a culture of entitlement. A culture of entitlement is one that is low on appreciation and looks only to self interest and the next thing; whereas a culture of gratitude is focused on appreciation

Why my twins think Kobe is the best…

Placing The Emphasis on God

1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

Let’s face it, we live in a culture that placates to self centeredness, narcissism, and greed. We are programmed by the world around us to take ownership of making sure we have the best of everything and that we need to grind harder, work more, and that if we are struggling to keep up with the demands 1 desires of the world then we are failing. But that is not even close to Biblical.

A Biblical perspective instead begins in understanding that we really have no ability to create, sustain, or even exist outside of God.

Don’t believe me: consider just one example. Every day there are around 25millions meteors, asteroids, pieces of space debris that enter Earth’s atmosphere; out of those 25million 17 of those make it to Earth’s surface and out of those there are less than 1 a year that falls in a place where it is any form of a threat to a person. God is literally protecting us from falling space stuff all the time- and we are not even aware of it most of the time. We are nothing without God.

Or think about this: especially you guys out there. We touched on this at Bible study the other night; as men we are often told that we are supposed to be the providers and the ones who are to make the money or get the things for our family; but if you read the Bible closely you will notice that God NEVER tells us to do that- not one time. God never tells men- or any human for that matter- that they are to provide, because that is God’s job.

Matthew 6:31–33 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Be intentional

I like to say “if you do not think you will not thank” It is extremely difficult to be accidentally thankful. We can get mad by accident, or laugh by accident, or we can be clueless by accident, but in most cases it take purpose to be grateful.

Philippians 4:8“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

The Bible tells us what kind of things we should be thinking about; and when we start it will soon be easy to keep in the mindset.

You ever bought a new car and when you buy it you think- man you don’t see many this color. Or, nobody around here has a car like this one! And then its like every day you see a car that looks just like yours! Why? Because you are paying attention now.

What you are looking for you will eventually find; so if you are looking for reasons to be grateful you will find them!

Sometimes its okay to brag—just not about yourself

1 Corinthians 1:31 “so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””

It’s mother’s day; and moms I hope none of you had to buy your own gifts today. Perhaps there is no more awkward scenario than having to buy your own #1 mom coffee mug or world best mother tshirt. But there is something so special about having your kid give you a gift and look at you like you are the most amazing person in the world.

Friends, sometimes it is good for us to boast- as long as we are boasting about the Lord.

In John 5 when Jesus was questioned about healing on the Sabbath he replied John 5:17 “But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”” And if God is always working then we always have something to be thanking him for!

Look at the giver. not the gift.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Anyone who has had kids has had the box experience, right? When you work so hard to get your kid that perfect gift you know they are going to love; and as soon as they open it, and you unpack it——you see them playing in the box.

YOU MISSED THE BEST PART!

I wonder if God feels that way soemtimes.

"It is a rare person who, when his cup frequently runs over, can give thanks to God instead of complaining about the limited size of his mug!"

In his book 'Jesus, Lord of Your Personality,' pastor Bob Russell points out that having a lot doesn’t tend to produce a grateful spirit.

"Have you had a taste of the best this world has to offer? You went to Hawaii once on vacation, so now it’s harder for you to enjoy the state park. You’ve eaten a steak at Ruth Chris, so it’s harder to be thankful for a meal at Ponderosa. You’ve driven a Jaguar, so now you can’t be as content with your used Chevrolet. You’ve cheered for a national champion, so now it’s difficult to be grateful when your team has a good season but doesn’t take home the title..."

"Generally speaking, the more we have, the less grateful we are. It should be the opposite; the more we have, the more thankful we should be. But it usually doesn’t work that way, does it?"

"A wise man prayed, ’Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God’" (Proverbs 30:8-9).