We can all relate to how irritating ingratitude can be. One of the primary life skills a parent seeks to teach their children is gratitude. Gratitude for an act of kindness, assistance, or for the thought that lays behind a gift. The expression of a simple, heartfelt thank you means so much! The absence of gratitude tells you a lot about a person.
In the Bible, the apostle Paul focuses on one aspect of human character that highlights the biblical truth that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” God created humanity to know him, to love him with the whole of our being, and enjoy fellowship with Him forever. Scripture tells us that all things were created by Him and for Him. But one of the primary sins listed in scripture that emphasises humanities separation from God is our ingratitude to God. The Bible puts it like this: the human race is guilty of not glorifying God or giving thanks to Him (Rom 1:21). Scripture tells us that every good thing created by God should be received with thanks. Of course, one such aspect of God’s good creation is our food.
It’s so easy to take life’s basics for granted and to approach them with a self-sufficient attitude. Scripture, however, is clear: God alone is the sole provider of our daily bread which includes not only our food, but our clothing, the roof over our head, the energy that powers it etc. Sadly, all of us are guilty of turning from God and refusing to give thanks to the Lord for all his provisions, and this is but one example of our sinfulness that breaks God’s law and separates us from Him.
The good news of the Gospel is that God has sent His Son into the world, to perfectly keep God’s law, and to pay for the penalty of all our sins against a Holy God, so that we can be forgiven, reconciled to God, and have everlasting life. His Son Jesus Christ paid the penalty our sins deserve on Calvary’s cross, and now calls upon people everywhere to confess and turn from our sin unto Him, and trust in Him alone as our Lord and Saviour. What’s more, he promises to give us new hearts to love him, to love his word, and give to us a spirit of thanksgiving so that we may praise Him, worship, and thank Him for all his provisions to us; especially for the provision of His only begotten Son in whom all those who believe upon Him have everlasting life.
Why not come to hear more about Jesus and give thanks to God at our Harvest Service.
Pastor Jonathan Davies