“Wherefore
God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts…Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him
not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Rom. 1:24, 21).
"This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Tim. 3:1, 2), and
the Scripture goes on to say, “Having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” So,
even though there may be an outward appearance of holiness (a form of godliness), an unthankful
spirit can corrupt our souls and cause us not to have enough power to even obey
God’s laws.
Being unthankful/ungrateful can have deadly consequences.
But conversely, a thankful heart is a happy heart. A spirit of unthankfulness and ungratefulness breeds depression. It's impossible to have a thankful heart and be depressed. I read that 25% of American women suffer from depression. I was actually surprised the percentage was so low. It seems depression is rampant amongst Americans. It's probably because we have SO MUCH in America. The more you have, the more you want and the less content you are. The happiest people I've ever seen have been the poorest people I've worshiped with in third world countries. They have no change of clothing, no electricity and limited food, but they are the happiest and most grateful people! Shame on us! We take so many things for granted and expect so much! We think we're ENTITLED.
Psalm 92:1 says, “It is
a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” Therefore it follows, it is a
BAD thing to be unthankful. Unthankfulness is a direct violation of the will
and Word of God. The Bible commands: “In
everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you” (1 Thess. 5:18).
An unthankful heart leads to all sorts of other sins. When you read the long list of abominable sins listed in the first chapter of Romans, verse 21 says all these sins stem from two roots: 1) not glorifying God 2) not being thankful It's a SERIOUS thing to be unthankful.
We
have SO MUCH for which to be thankful! God sent His only begotten Son to die on
the cross for us, that we could have eternal life. That alone is so much more
than we deserve.
“Thou life of my life, blessed Jesus,
Thou death of the death that was mine,
For me was Thy cross and Thine anguish,
Thy love and Thy sorrow divine;
Thou suffered the cross and the torment,
That I might forever go free
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings,
I bring, blessed Saviour to Thee.”
Thou death of the death that was mine,
For me was Thy cross and Thine anguish,
Thy love and Thy sorrow divine;
Thou suffered the cross and the torment,
That I might forever go free
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings,
I bring, blessed Saviour to Thee.”
