Tag Archives: how to be more thankful

Why to always be thankful

Leave a reply

Someone has written some rather interesting things for which he is thankful. I thought I would share them with you.

*  I am thankful for the taxes I pay because it means I am employed.

*  I am thankful for the clothes that fit a little snug because it means I have enough to eat.

*  I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing and gutters that need cleaning because it means

*  I have a house to live in.

*  I am thankful for my utility bill because it means I am staying warm.

*  I am thankful for the complaining I hear about our government because it means we  have freedom of speech.

*  I am thankful about the person who sings off key in church because it means I can hear.

*  I am thankful for the piles of laundry in my home because it means that me and my family

*  I have clothes to wear.

*  I am thankful for the weary, aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

When we view life like this man does, it’s really difficult NOT to be thankful regardless of who and where we are, or our life’s situation.  The question becomes: “To whom shall we be thankful?” and “How do we demonstrate our gratitude?”  Psalm 100 tells us that God is to be the recipient of all our thanksgiving.

“Thanksgiving” is a priority commandment of God (Ephesians 3:20;  1Thessalonians 5:18). We demonstrate our thanksgiving toward God only by means of worship, loving and living His Word. I sincerely hope that you have the proper attitude of Thanksgiving to God, not only during this holiday week, but everyday of the year.

–Toby Miller

Is Our Thanksgiving Sincere?

Leave a reply

Paul spoke of the Gentiles in this fashion…

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” ( Romans 1:21 ESV).

Did you catch the “progression” in that verse?

* The Gentiles knew God. * The Gentiles did not honor God. * The Gentiles did not give thanks to God. * The Gentiles became futile in their thinking and their hearts were darkened.

Watch it. Even though the Gentiles KNEW God existed (because a creation implied a Creator, vv. 19-20), they did not respond to their knowledge of him. They refused to recognize, acknowledge, or bow down to him in worship.

They did not accept the fact that he was the singular source of all their blessings. They decided that blind fortune or human merit afforded the totality of life’s rewards.

And what was the inevitable result of this failure to express honor and gratitude to God?

Paul said their thinking became futile. The word means “empty.” I find it interesting that the same Greek word translated “futile” is the same word in the Septuagint/1 used for idols (e.g., Leviticus 17:7; 2 Chronicles 11:15). You see, idols are empty; they are nothing.

So instead of building their minds on the reality of God, the Gentiles built them on their own senseless speculation and therefore became futile or empty in their thinking.

I don’t know about you, but I hear a strong warning in Romans 1:21. It is possible for me to know (and even admit) that God exists, but then fail to show my love and gratitude towards him.

The consequences of perennial ingratitude mean that my thinking becomes empty and I lose the ability to make any moral distinctions.

We sometimes wonder how politicians can reference deity but then enact laws that are in direction contradiction to divine revelation. I understand now how that happens. It’s about ingratitude. Thanklessness. Folks who chose not to thank God will inevitably pursue legislation that is empty and void of God’s will.

I need to be more grateful. Thanksgiving shouldn’t be confined to a day, it should be a lifestyle. _______

1/ The Greek translation of the Old Testament.

by Mike Benson @ www.forthright.net