Miserable Ingrates!

Just about any parent of a child, particularly a teen, knows what it is to deal with a lack of appreciation.  After scarfing down dinner, that boy whose just eaten his fill, walks away apparently without any idea of the effort that put the food in front of him. That same 15 year old fails to grasp that his  clothing does not just magically move from hamper to closet, becoming clean along the way. “I need,” is a common refrain, with no thought about how much that new pair of shoes costs Dad. The cell phone in her pocket? She feels entitled to it, offended if the suggestion is made that perhaps it’s time to start paying for her own.  Many outgrow their narcissism and come to realize the love that caused Mom and Dad to invest so much time and treasure in them. Some, tragically, never do; and they carry their ingratitude into adulthood. Ingrates spread their misery like a virus!

Do you recognize the goodness of God and give sincere thanks?

Ingratitude, believe it or not, is a fertile soil that nourishes spiritual rebellion!  In the first chapter of Romans, the desperate state of depraved humanity is outlined with an ugly recital of the worst kinds of behaviors. The beginning of it all?  "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21, NIV)  If we act like spoiled kids, demanding more and failing to give thanks, we will increasingly become Self-centered, full of doubt, and eventually bitter – far from the fellowship of the Spirit.

This is more than a nice saying, it’s a life principle: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV)  Real gratitude goes beyond a flip, “thanks.”  It appreciates the effort and cost.  Thankfulness expands our capacity to love – both God and others.  Thankfulness is an expression of a loving heart. One feeds the other.  When I deal with a person who lacks gratitude, whose attitude implies that they think I owe them something, I am much less inclined to want to be generous. You, too?   God resists our selfishness, too.  He is not, however, offended in the same way that we are by unthankful people. Our Father desires our worshipful gratitude, not because He craves our appreciation, but because it reveals a heart in which Self is dethroned.

Here’s what the Word says. It’s simple, often quoted, and ignored just as often: "Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20, NIV) Let’s cultivate thankfulness.  If we wait for it to just ‘show up’ in our lives, we will die feeling God and the world owes us more!  But, if we humble ourselves, take note of His faithfulness often as well as the goodness of others, we will become more and more thankful; able to receive and give from a great heart.

"Thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. He poured great draughts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat. " (Psalm 107:8-9, The Message)

__________________

Give thanks

With a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ His Son

And now let the weak say

I am strong

Let the poor say

I am rich

Because of what

The Lord has done for us

Give thanks

Henry Smith

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