Gratitude

ME/INTRO

Good morning!!!  My name is Ryan Hanson and I and I’m so glad to be here with you this holiday weekend.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving; got to spend some time with loved ones, ate lots of good food, and got to enjoy a few days off work.

Question for the group…who is a big Thanksgiving weekend shopper?  Moment of confession, I love it.  I love looking through the adds Thanksgiving day afternoon, waking up early and going to the stores the day after Thanksgiving.  I like the craziness.  I’m the type of person that will have conversations with random people in the long checkout lines.  Menards is the best.  I go there every year, even if there isn’t really anything I need.  It is a shopping 3 ring circus.  At least for me Thanksgiving marks the start of the Holiday season.

Which begs the question, is shopping what we’re supposed to be most excited about?  I have three kids, and all they talk about is Christmas lists, the endless stuff they want, and (let’s be honest) will inevitably never play with.  But I’m just as guilty.  This year, I want a new sports watch.  I’ve spent hours looking up reviews on the various watches, checking specs, stalking stores to see if it is going to go on sale.  It’s easy to get sucked into the rabbit hole of selfishness, right?

But we all know, Thanksgiving is the holiday set aside to reflect on all we have to be thankful, or grateful for.  To spend time reflecting on all the good things that have happened over the last year, all the people who have blessed us, and all the things that God has done in and through our lives.  But if you’re like me, that is really hard.

This image popped up on my FaceBook page last week and I think it captures my life perfectly this season.

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Overall, my life is pretty good, but it doesn’t take much to ruin an entire day.  One e-mail from the wrong person, one phone call that didn’t go well, one misbehaving child that I don’t handle as well as I should, and my mind starts racing and my whole day is shot.  I forget everything that was good, and stew on the one bad moment letting it take over my entire day.  Does this ring true for anyone else?

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It turns out that a while back I was in a bit of a rut, allowing too many bad moments the power to ruin too many days.  I mentioned it to my small group.  One well intentioned group member said something to me similar to a quote from David Steindl-Rast, a Catholic Benedictine Monk, named who said,

“If you think it’s happiness that makes you grateful, think again.

It’s gratefulness that makes you happy”

He then went on to challenge me to make a list of 100 things I was grateful for.  Has anyone tried to do this?  Needless to say, I failed.  I couldn’t even get to 5.  I started with God, family, friends, the fact I had job, and then I got desperate.  Since I couldn’t think of anything else, I just started expanding the 4 items I had.  I split God out into the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  I split my family out by person; Andrea my wife, Eliana my daughter.  I started writing down each friend I had, then stopped when it made me more depressed at how few friends I actually had.  Then I just gave up and threw the list away.

Whereas I failed this small group member’s challenge, God used this to start me on a journey toward learning about gratitude and what God says about gratitude in the bible.

Did you know God actually commands us to be grateful?

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

WE

I titled this message today “A Journey to Biblical Gratitude”.  I’d like to invite you to jump in the passenger seat and travel with me as we dig into scripture and see what the Bible has to say about being grateful.  We’ve already seen that we’re commanded to be grateful, but how do we do that?  What are we supposed to be grateful for?  What challenges stop us from being grateful?  And how do we overcome those challenges?

GOD - Provision

So today, we’ll have three stops on our “Journey to Biblical Gratitude”.  The first stop will be in Deuteronomy 14:22-27 (NIV).

Deuteronomy 14:22–27 NIV

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

The first thing God calls us to be grateful for is His Provision.

This passage is one of the main sections in the bible on Tithing.  Tithing, in and of itself, is an act of gratitude.  By giving the first 10% back to God, we’re saying through our actions that we are grateful for the provision He has given, and trust that He will continue to provide.

But, let’s be honest, this is not natural for a lot of us.  With every journey there are roadblocks, and the roadblock to being grateful for God’s provision is worry.  When times get tough, bills stack us, money runs out before the next paycheck, it is very easy to worry about God’s provision.  It is easy to stop being grateful for what God has given, and (just like the red dot graphic I showed earlier) worry only about our problems.

Jesus speaks to the antidote to this roadblock.  In Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)

Matthew 6:31–34 NIV

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus says here that to get past the roadblock of worry and to be able to truly be grateful for God’s provision, we need to seek His kingdom.  We need to focus on our relationship with God and living a Kingdom life.  If we do this, aligning our lives to God will (through the power of the Holy Spirit), God will change our wants and our priorities, rebalance our lives, and provide for every need in the process.  God knows what we need, and like any good father, wants to provide for us.  He won’t give us everything we want, but He wants to provide what we need and what is best for us.

So, my challenge to you is this…What are you currently worrying about?  Have you brought it to God?  Have you prayed about it?  Have you read what the Bible says about it?  Have you asked God to remove this worry from your life and help you focus on building your relationship with Him?  Have you prayed for the next step God wants you to take to live the Kingdom life He’s calling you to live now?

This week, how can you be more grateful for the provision God has given you to?

GOD – Opportunities

The second stop on our “Journey to Biblical Gratitude” will be in Luke 1:26-38, 46-47 (NIV).

Luke 1:26–38 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:46–47 NIV

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

The second thing God calls us to be grateful for are the Opportunities He gives us.

God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah, the savior of the world.  How could one not be grateful for such an opportunity?

Most of us have heard the story of the birth of Jesus.  But because we know who Jesus is and how the story goes, if you’re like me, you don’t typically think much of this interaction with Mary and the Angel.  But the reality is, Mary had every reason to give into the second roadblock to being grateful for the opportunities God gives us; fear.  Mary knew her situation.  She knew she was unwed.  She knew that having a baby, in that time, without being married, was a huge problem.  Back in those days culture was based on honor and shame, and having a baby without being married would bring shame to your family.  Even with Joseph not calling off the wedding, everyone knew the child was conceived before the wedding and Mary and Joseph would both live with that shame the rest of their lives.  In Luke 2:7 (NIV) it is written…

Luke 2:7 NRSV

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

INN – Katalyma – Guest Room

The word “inn” in Luke 2:7 is the word katalyma and means guest room.  The reality was they were in Joseph’s home town.  They wouldn’t have stayed in a hotel / inn.  They would have stayed with their relatives.  But, because of the shame brought upon Mary and Joseph due to Jesus’ questionable conception, their families shunned them and wouldn’t let them stay in their guest rooms.

I’m sure when the angel told Mary God’s plan, she was afraid of what lay ahead of her.  But Mary also knew the bible and knew that it is full of encouragement for dealing with the roadblock of fear.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The antidote to the roadblock of fear is faith that God is with us, and will stay with us as we walk the path that He has laid in front of us.  We need to have faith that God has a good plan for us, and when He gives us opportunities, He won’t leave us, but stay with us and help us through any situation that potentially could be afraid of.

So, my challenge to you is this…what opportunities has God given to you?  What fears are keeping you from saying “yes”?  Have you brought your fears to God in prayer?  Meditate on 1 John 4:18, focusing on how much God loves you and wants what’s best for you.

1 John 4:18 NIV

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

This week, how can you be more grateful for the opportunities God has given to you?

GOD - Persecution

The third stop on our “Journey to Biblical Gratitude” will be in Romans 5:1-5 (NIV).

Romans 5:1–5 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The third thing God calls us to be grateful for is life’s Persecutions.

Now this is where the journey gets bumpy.  I can get onboard with being grateful for God’s Provision.  I can get onboard with being grateful for the Opportunities God gives me.  BUT…I struggle with dealing with Life’s Persecutions.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t like drama, I don’t life conflict, and I don’t life suffering of any kind.  I do my best, and really hate when people attack me for doing so.  I believe Romans 5:1-5, that God CAN use the persecutions of the world to grow my character and give me hope, but in the moment my roadblock to being grateful for life’s persecutions is that I lose that hope.  I suffer the persecution for as long as I think I can bear, don’t see the fruits God promises in Romans 5, and I lose hope that my suffering will ever lead to any good.

Lucky for us, Paul actually talks directly to this roadblock later in Romans 8:18,20,24,25,28 (NIV).

Romans 8:18 NIV

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:20 NIV

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

Romans 8:24–25 NIV

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The antidote the roadblock of losing hope during persecution is to wait patiently in faith that God is working for our good to prepare us for the future plans that He has created us to fulfill.

I’m not going to lie, this is by far the hardest thing for me to be grateful for and this is the hardest antidote to successfully take.  It is easy to conceptually believe in my head that God is working for my good, but in the moment, when things are not going well, it is very hard to live that belief out.

Being patient in suffering is not natural for me, maybe it’s not natural for you either.  But we need to look past our present condition, keep our focus on God, have faith that God is good and working for our good, and look forward to the time when the suffering we’re going through will produce the perseverance, character, and hope that God promises.

My challenge to myself and you, is to practice gratitude this week for the areas in your life where you are suffering.  Pray to God, thanking Him for creating you for a purpose, having a plan for your life, and loving you enough to help you build the character you need for the plans He has for you.  Just like a good parent will let natural consequences play out in their own child’s life to help them learn the required lessons they need to learn to be responsible adults, let’s thank God this week for letting us go through the hard time needed so that we to can learn the lessons we need to be citizens in His Kingdom.

This week, how can you be grateful for the suffering you’re experiencing in your life?

WE / JESUS

I don’t know the details of all your lives, but I do know that God wants us all to be grateful for the provision He provides, the opportunities He gives, and the persecutions He uses to grow our character and prepare us for the future work He created us for.

As we finish our Journey to Biblical Gratitude, there is one more stop we need to make, and it is the most important.

We’re entering the Christmas season where we celebrate when God gave His one and only son so we could live free of the fear of death, live confidently that the consequences of our sin has been forgiven, and have hope in an everlasting life with Him in heaven.  All we have to do is accept this free gift that God has already given us.  There is nothing we should be more grateful for than a God that loves us so much He would sacrifice His own son so that we can share eternity with Him.

I want to close with a few questions.

What would Wyoming be like if we all committed to live grateful lives this Christmas season; focusing not on what we want, but focusing on God who has already given us everything?  What if we focused less on getting, but prayed to God to show us areas where we can serve?

What would our families be like if we made serving gratefully a family event, keeping Jesus and His kingdom at the center everything we do this holiday season? What is the Holy Spirit whispering in your ear right now?  I challenge you to not ignore it, but act.  Obediently take the next best step this week to live the grateful life God calls us to live.

PRAYER

Will you join me in prayer? Dear God.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. It is so easy for us to get caught up the details of our lives and forget to thank you, the one who gives us everything. Thank you for the provision you bless us with.  Help us to push past the worry that we experience and focus on building our relationship with you and living the kingdom life you call us to. Thank you for the opportunities you place in front of us.  Help us push past the fear that we feel and know that you are with us and will never leave us. Thank you for the persecution that life throws our way.  Help us to keep hope and know that you are working for our good and preparing us for the plans you created us to fulfill. Above all, thank you for the sacrifice of your son Jesus.  Thank you for loving us when we didn’t deserve it.  Thank you for taking the consequences of our sin upon yourself and providing us a way to have a right relationship with you.  Thank you for the promise of eternal life with you. Help us live a grateful life this holiday season, focusing not on our wants and needs, but follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit to bless others. We thank you and we love you and it is in the powerful name of your son Jesus Christ that we pray…Amen.

SONG

BENEDICTION

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Provision What are you currently worrying about? Have you brought it to God? Have you prayed about it? Have you read what the Bible says about it?

Have you asked God to remove this worry from your life and help you focus on building your relationship with Him? Have you prayed for the next step God wants you to take to live the Kingdom life He’s calling you to live now? Opportunity What opportunities has God given to you? What fears are keeping you from saying “yes”? Have you brought your fears to God in prayer? Meditate on 1 John 4:18, focusing on how much God loves you and wants what’s best for you. This week, how can you be more grateful for the opportunities God has given to you? Persecution Where are you experiencing persecution in your life? Are you losing hope that God will use this period in your life for your good? Do you believe that God is preparing you for future plans He has for you? How can you be grateful for the suffering you’re experiencing in your life?