a web-book based on sermons delivered at Grace Presbyterian Church Characteristics of the Christian by Pastor Bob Burridge ©2001

Chapter 2 Living Thankfully Its so nice when people remember to thank others for what they have done for them. Thank you is a very important expression. It can be a most sincere way to show appreciation for a kindness done. Sometimes words don't even need to be spoken. It can be said with a smile, a hug or a shed tear of gladness. Yet it helps to say what's on our hearts so that our gratitude won't be missed. But sadly, it can also be said in a mechanical or hollow way. We've seen children prodded into thanking someone when its not in their heart to do so. They look down at their shoes, fidget with their hands, and mumble the words quietly. Of course its all part of the process of learning how to treat others with respect. Our hope is that they will develop this as an important natural habit in their lives. And sometimes the words can be said in a sarcastic way. Someone not appreciating what somebody else did may say "Well, thanks a lot!" They say it so the person knows they didn't do good when they should have. Leave it to our sinfilled hearts to turn a good expression into an insult. But as Christians we should learn another dimension to it. A thank you should be an acknowledgement of a person's part in God's blessings toward us. Living gratefully ought to be a characteristic of every Christian's life. Tragically, in our fallen nature, self replaces God as the center of what concerns us most. Fallen souls pervert thankfulness into its opposite. The absence of gratitude is an attitude of presumption or entitlement. In 1 Corinthians 4:6 Paul warned the believers that no should one become arrogant having received something. He asks, "... why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (:7). People often act as if they deserve all they get, or good is taken for granted. Warren Wiersbe once told about a ministerial student who was part of a life-saving team. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, Illinois. Edward Spencer waded again and again into the ice cold waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, he damaged his own health permanently. Years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him. A good deed is often spoiled by seeing its flaws instead of its intended good. One devotional booklet tells the story of an old man who approached a young stranger in the post office and asked, "Sir, would you address this postcard for me?" The young man gladly did just as he was asked, then offered to write a short note for the old man. Finally the stranger asked, "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?" The old man thought a moment and said, "Yes, at the end could you add, 'Please excuse the sloppy handwriting.'" Fred De Witt Van Amburgh once wrote: None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. Henry Ward Beecher said, Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.-- Thankfulness begins with knowing what we have to be thankful for. Its an appreciative acknowledgement of a benefit received from another Originally the English word "thank" come from "a think" it was "a thought". It was a consideration of a kindness received. In Old Testament Hebew, Thanks is todah. It comes from yadah meaning "to throw, to cast". Its the casting of praise or gratitude toward someone. In New Testament Greek, its eukharisteo meaning a good favor or grace offered to someone. Our first thankfulness ought to be for what we receive from God This is the most obvious, and foremost duty of gratitude. Ultimately every good thing we receive is from God. James 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. Paul pointed out to the ungodly pagans at Athen that God deserves the thanks of all men; Acts 14:17 ... He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. " Therefore, we should always thank God for all good things we receive. for his amazing and beautiful creation, for his merciful and full preservation of all that he made, including us, for a gracious salvation (forgiveness from our sin and guilt, and the promise of eternal blessing) for the daily provisions and the abundance we enjoy beyond our basic needs. for our opportunities, and our ability to take advantage of them. The Bible is filled with the giving of thanks to God. For example ... Psalm 116:17 To Thee I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And call upon the name of the LORD. But, while not detracting from God as the cause of the goodness done by others ... we need to remember to thank the people God uses as his means by which we are blessed! There are many biblical examples showing that its right and good to thank people for the kindnesses they show to us ... There was that one leper in ten who returned to Jesus to thank him for healing him. Luke 17:11-19 And it came about while He was on the way to Jerusalem, that He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a certain village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" And when He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-- where are they? "Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Rise, and go your way; your faith has made you well." Notice that the first direction of gratitude was toward God. But the thankful leper also wanted to thank the means God used, the person of Jesus. So rather than being satisfied with just a private thanks to God in prayer, he was commended for turning back, going out of his way, to thank the agent of his blessing. The Apostle Paul remembered to thank those who had helped him. He sent his thanks to his friends from Corinth and Ephesus who had moved to Rome: Romans 16:3-4 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; Paul sends thanks to them for their help in risking their lives for him. He saw them as true, reponsible agents in the hand of God. He showed his appreciation for their goodness to the church in Philippi. Philippians 1 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. When Paul was teaching the believers in Colossae about Christian character he said in Colossians 3 ... And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Paul listed 7 important attitudes and behaviors they should develop. Beyond all the specifics he said they should put on love, the sum of the other attributes. And, telling them in Colossians 3:15 to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts, he ended by telling them to ... "be thankful." These examples show us how important it is for us to thank others for their goodness. When neighbor, family member or friend acts as God's agent to do something good for you, even the smallest kindness, you ought to show gratitude and not take it for granted. Its important to let them know you appreciate what they did, and that you recognize them as God's honored means. First, we need to notice the good that others do and how God uses them. Not just thanking them for gifts or cards they give us on birthdays and holidays. But for their daily kindnesses, encouragements, and fellowship. Learn to treasure these little things, and build others up in the Lord because of them. This is something we can do everywhere: In the home: between husbands and wives, children and their parents, brothers and sisters. In the extended family: including the parents of parents, cousins, uncles and aunts. In the church: all who are both members and leaders of our spiritual famly. In the community: all who work together, support one another, and do business with one another. In our imperfections we often do more complaining when we should be appreciative and thankful. Years ago a magazine told the story of a young man named Ben. He was a complainer. He grumbled about the weather, found fault with his family and friends, and let the littlest things upset him. But his life was changed by a little rhyme he read: "When you have truly thanked the Lord for every blessing sent, then you'll have very little time to murmur or lament." He realized that in his discontent he had overlooked the gifts God showered on him daily. Ben determined to overcome his habit of complaining, with God's help. Whenever he became irritated or started to complain, he would stop and thank God for the many good things he was enjoying. Soon, by centering his attention on praising rather than pouting, he found it much easier to avoid his grouchy mood. I like this simpler rhyme which might help: "The humble don't grumble, they think on the good. They thank for each kindness, because God says they should." Our thanks as children of God should not be vain flattery or mechanical thanks . They should be real attempts to see God in what others do, and to honor God and people as his instruments for the good they do. In situations this week ... Look for good things that others do. Make sure you appreciate it and tell them so. Learn to see others as agents of God in bringing his blessings into your life. While you direct all the glory to Christ, remember to thank the person God has used and encourage them in their good. Help them understand the honor they have in being used by God to do good.

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