Being Thankful in a Thankless Age
Notes
Transcript
Sept 8, 1860 (stormy night on Lake Michigan) Milwaukee-bound steamboat “Lady Elgin” collided with a boat filled with lumber just a mile offshore from Winnetka, IL. Of the 379 passengers onboard, 279 drowned.
A man named Edward Spencer, after seeing the situation unfold, plunged into the lake and swam to the drowning people. He towed one person to shore and went for another. In all, he brought 17 people to safety.
However, the strain on this young man caused him to collapse. The nerves in his legs were completely destroyed and left him unable to walk again. The rest of his life he spent in a wheelchair.
Later in his life, someone asked him to related his most vivid memory of that dreadful day. He replied, “not one of the 17 ever returned to thank me.”
Thanklessness really is the character of this age. As people pursue living apart from God more and more, thankfulness is a virtue that is seldom witnessed.
I think the Lord had similar reaction on His way to Jerusalem when He encountered 10 men with leprosy.
While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.
Of the 10 men healed of leprosy, only 1 returned to thank Him. Wonderful account of thankfulness for the Samaritan who returned. 10 men were healed but only 1 showed gratitude. It illustrates for us how ugly thanklessness/ingratitude can be. Leprosy was perhaps the most feared disease in the biblical world. The devastating results of leprosy were seen by most. The isolation and being labeled “unclean” prevented interaction with loved ones and others in society. These 10 men were instantly healed of this dreadful disease (resulting: their standing in society instantly increased) and yet 9 remained thankless for the miracle Christ performed in their lives. Thanklessness is an ugly sin.
1 Thes 5:18
Briefly unfold 3 truths regarding thankfulness to help us remember Paul’s admonition to always give thanks.
I. The Indictment Against Humanity
In general terms, thanklessness is the trait of the unregenerate.
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Humanity has risen in rebellion against God and His law which He has written on their hearts. They’ve suppresses His truth in unrighteousness and consequently have no excuse for their rebellion.
Humans are by nature, thankless people. I think we can understand this.
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
We can understand why the world would fail to give thanks b/c it will continue in its downward spiral of thanklessness and immorality. But it is impossible in my mind to understand a Christian who is ungrateful.
II. Instruction For Believers
A short command—nothing more really needs to be said to clarify. God expects and desires His people to express thankfulness to Him in all things. Gk. means in every circumstance in life. You are to be thankful not just in circumstances that are gratifying but no matter what happens to you in life—give thanks (word shares the root charis—joy, everything about which one rejoices and then the reciprocation of favor).
NOTE: Only one exception to this—personal sin. In everything, no matter what the difficulty, no matter what the trial, all believers are to find reason to give thanks to the Lord.
Now the manner of our thanksgiving should not be careless, half-hearted—“Oh by the way, thanks God.” The command to be thankful indicates that our way of life is to be consumed with gratitude. Our thanksgiving is on-going, continually in all things.
What would drive us to live our life in this manner? As believers, why would we want to always be thankful? “for this is the will…”
I know many Christians concern themselves a great deal over “doing” or “not doing” the will of God. Paul makes it very simple for us. This is the will of God. Give thanks in everything and you are doing the will of God. Neglect to give thanks to God and you’re not.
As believers we have newness of life, regenerated spirit, forgiveness of sin, adoption as sons. Have you ever met a new believer? Their expression of gratitude is wonderful and yet convicting for me. They live with such thankfulness to God b/c the work of salvation is so vivid in their minds.
God’s will for us is to be thankful. That fits into the ultimate plan of God. Rom 8:28
God orchestrates every event in life to our temporal and eternal benefit. What about hardships in life? 1 Pt 4:12-13
It’s all part of the divine plan and divine purpose.
When you live with such realization, thankfulness becomes the vital reality in your life.
The command is to “give thanks in everything for this is the will of God.” This is what God wants from you and me. Now there are so many things that will hinder you from giving thanks and acknowledging God in every circumstance in your life. Things that keep your heart from rejoicing/praying/thanking.
Ultimate model of Thanksgiving is Christ.
Matt 11:25-30 “Praise=Thank you”
Jesus was approaching the horrific death on the cross and His heart was thankful. Was it easy? Obviously not—the Lord went thru agonies that we would never comprehend.
Then there’s the time when Lazarus died. John 11 Jesus is dealing with Mary who said “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” He deals also with Martha who says in vs 39 that after 4 days in the tomb “He stinks”. Jesus simply said, “remove the stone…Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (vs 40).
So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
We wouldn’t think that Jesus would need to give thanks to God since He is God. But the example He gives to us is a thankful heart. And if the Lord God Himself gave incessant thanksgiving for everything, how much more ought we to do the same?
III. Impediments to Thankfulness
A) Pride: has been called “practical atheism” where you set yourself up as a god and you tell God “Get off the throne and put me on it.” That breeds self-worship and you will tell yourself, “give thanks for what?”
Thankfulness is the character of a humble Xn. It responds to God’s grace with utmost gratitude.
Spurgeon “The longer I live—and I think it is so with most Christians—the more I feel that everything must be of Grace from first to the last if I am to be saved. Grace chose us and Grace redeemed us! Grace calls us! Grace renews us! Grace preserves us and Grace must perfect us, or else nothing will come of all our hopes and desires!”
B) Doubt
Doubt will cause us to live in the realm of thanklessness. Can I trust God and His Word?, Can I trust His plan for my life? Is He telling me the truth? These are the same things Satan told Eve. Doubting His ability to control circumstances in your life will leave you without hope. You will remain ungrateful as God works His purposes out in your life.
C) Discontentment
Thanklessness feeds off of envy. When you’re discontent with what you have, you will become envious of what others have. The right response is not to accumulate the goods of the world, but to be content with the basic provisions of life.
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
D) Critical Spirit
Some people are just bitter, sour negative and feel the need to criticize everything. Maybe you know someone like this. They’re never thankful b/c they’re always concerned that this is not how things should be.
These people have a constant burr under their saddle and don’t have much of a positive attitude toward anything.
Where does the critical spirit come from? Back to Pride. Having a large ego. “I want me to look good, I want to impress others by what I know, I want everyone to know that I know best.” If they don’t listen I’m going to be sour, negative, critical spirit.”
With that it is impossible to thank God b/c you don’t have anything to be thankful for.
E) Rebellion
Flat out rebellion will hinder a thankful heart. Some people are angry with God, they don’t like the process God is taking them thru. They’ll even admit they’re unthankful but say “I know it, just deal with it.”
They flat out rebel against God and reject His purposes for them. For whatever reason, they’re living not for the Lord but for themselves.
These are impediments to thankfulness but Scripture exhorts us to be thankful. And it doesn’t take long to make a substantial list of all the blessings we ought to be thankful for.
Salvation, indescribable gift of Christ, unlimited blessings of God, victory over sin and death, forgiveness of sin, God’s guidance, provision for every need, power of the HS, hope of glory, power of God’s Word, power of prayer, goodness of God, grace of God, mercy of God, life and breath.