The Attitude of Gratitude

Gratitude is my choice

Gratitude is my everyday choice

Gratitude is God’s purpose for my life

Example 1 - David’s success with the temple

Example 2 - Daniel and the plot against him

This week I want to encourage all to exhibit a heart and lifestyle of expressing gratitude toward GOD. Whereas last week we looked at the essence, that being the nature or what originates or springs forth gratitude, today we will focus on it being my attitude, which is a settled way of thinking and feeling which is reflected in our behavior. Well Bro Evans, how can it become my attitude?

Paul is giving his final instructions for conduct as a child of God. Toward the end, he gives a trio, a set of 3 commands which are connected, and relate to time and the full scope of life. We know it “rejoice”, “pray”, and “give thanks”.

Gratitude is my choice

Paul says “be thankful” or to “give thanks”, which means to express ones gratitude for grace, in all the forms it may be expressed. It is a command in the active voice, which means the Christian community has a choice on whether or not to be grateful. And the opposite choice, of course is ingratitude.

Application: The fact that it’s a choice means we need to know what other competing possibilities exists. Pride says it was all by my work, and therefore I boast in what I have accomplished. Entitlement says I deserve special treatment and what I want. Complaining says I’m highly dissatisfied with how I’m treated (which could be a legitimate feeling), but too much of that choice leaves no room for gratitude. Covetousness/Envy says I constantly look at and compare myself with what others have and I hate or strive to obtain their success. We have a choice to make, and we can choose to be grateful.

Gratitude is my everyday choice

Well how often or when and where should I make this choice? Paul answers “in everything”. The present tense of “give thanks” indicates it should become habitual. “In” denotes a location, and “everything” denotes each and every circumstance. A circumstance are the surrounding facts and events that impact what happens in my life. “Give thanks” and “in everything” are grammatically tied together.

Application: That means we must develop the habit of expressing gratitude every day and no matter the events that surround and impact our lives. Not “for” the circumstances, but “in” the circumstances. As each day brings different or the same circumstances, we make the choice to say “God, we appreciate you for...”

Gratitude is God’s purpose for my life

Then Paul gives the reason for these three commands, and that is it is an important component of God’s design and purpose for living life as a body part of Christ!

Application: We should be motivated to make gratitude an attitude of and toward life when we understand that’s God’s purpose for us. It does not mean we accept mediocrity or no longer strive to achieve more and better, but we must make sure we are measuring ourselves to Christ and realize this life as a child of God is by grace, and thus GOD is at work in us to do what he purposes. Not the other way around.

Example 1 - David’s success with the design and supplies for temple

In 1 Ch 29:12, David had success obtaining all materials necessary to build the temple. But when he prayed, he acknowledged GOD, that all riches, honor, and strength come from him, therefore we praise and give thanks!! As he re-assigned the duties of the Levites for temple service in 1 Ch 23:30, they were to stand every morning and evening and praise and give thanks to GOD.

Example 2 - Daniel and the threat of the lion’s den

It’s quite natural to give GOD thanks in response to success, strength, and honor. But what about when circumstances are not so favorable? Daniel, a young man when Judah was taken captive to Babylon. In a culture of competition. When Nebuchadnezzar’s dream couldn’t be determined by magician’s, all the wise counselor’s would be put to death. When GOD revealed it to Daniel, he said “GOD we give you thanks, for giving me wisdom and power”. And then under Darius, because his counterparts were jealous of the favor on his career, the plotted to catch him up regarding his devotion to GOD. Having their plot signed in law. Daniel 6:10 says when Daniel knew it was signed into law, he knew there was a huge threat, the circumstance was in no way pretty. It says he continued kneeling 3 times a day, praying and giving thanks to GOD, as he had previously done!! It was his habit, it was already his attitude while being in captivity.

Is expressing gratitude your attitude? Will you make the choice to be grateful, over all the other options you could choose? Will you make it an every day and every circumstance choice, where it’s not only tied to favorable circumstances? Will you make this choice realizing it is part of God’s purpose for being in Christ?