An attitude of gratitude

“The most important prayer in the world is just two words long: ‘Thank You’.” ~ Eckhart von Hochheim

“When gratitude dies on the altar of a man’s heart, that man is well nigh hopeless.” ~ Bob Jones, Sr.

If you have been married or have children you typically enjoy doing nice things for your spouse and children. In most cases we do these “random acts of kindness” out of love and devotion for those we care deeply about. How crestfallen we all have been at times when the recipient of our largess seems less that appreciative, or does not exhibit the level of enthusiasm or gratefulness that our “sacrifice” warrants. No time is this probably bigger on display than during the holidays. What mother has not spent hours preparing a fine meal only to have it devoured in a moment’s notice, and then the family scatters like cockroaches after a light switch has been flipped. It is far easier to voice than live out the adage of it is better to give than to receive, especially when we feel slighted and at times angry for the lack of recognition we believe our kindness and hard work deserves.

Many years ago I worked as an announcer in Christian radio and we would air a children’s song written by Dixie Phillips and Chris Newman. The lyrics were; “Grumbly hateful or humbly grateful, what’s your attitude? Do you grumble and groan and let it be known you are ungrateful for all God’s done for you.” Some parents remind their children of this song when they are displaying a bad attitude but maybe we should consider singing it to ourselves sometimes. Step back for a moment and consider the innumerable blessings we have received from God on a daily basis. I know I am often guilty of not showing God gratitude for even the simplest of gifts; health, religious freedom and the quality of life of my American birth and citizenship just to name a few. Do we act like we truly believe James 1:17 and that every good gift comes from above?

What is our primary motivation to serve others? Is it for recognition? Because we expect something in return from them? Or is it a subtle form of manipulation to make them do what we want them to do? It is easy to forget that our sole motivation for serving others is to model what Jesus Christ did for us; "even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) In his devotional book “My Utmost for His Highest” Oswald Chambers states; “If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.”

Chambers talks about Paul’s motivation to serve others and how keenly aware of the debt he owed to Christ. Chambers writes; “Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man…” (1 Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.”

It can be difficult at times to serve others and pour yourself into them and for them. We can grow frustrated at the lack of appreciation and gratefulness they show to us, but when we step back and consider just how ungrateful we can be to God for His mercy, grace and long suffering towards us on a daily basis how dare we take offense. His Son, Jesus Christ willingly and completely poured Himself out as an offering for us on the cross and for all of His creation and so what gives us the right not to do likewise? We are reminded in Hebrews 13:15-16; "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

I know in my own life that I tend to get my nose out of joint when I feel like I am under appreciated for things I may do for my family or others. Then I hear that still small voice in my head reminding me that like Paul, I have been forgiven for so much and that in comparison to what Jesus Christ has done for me I have no room to complain. I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that my service is unto the Lord, and I am forced to look in the mirror and ask myself what was my motivation in the first place? It is in those moments I feel so small but my hope is restored when my gaze is returned to the Cross and the Savior who willingly, humbly and gratefully died for me and to do the will of the Father.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” ~ Romans 5:1-11

How can those verses alone not make our lips praise His name and pray two simple words to God; "Thank You!"