You Are Too Blessed Not To Give Thanks

It is frustrating to prepare a special meal, plan a party, or find a perfect gift for someone only to be met with a mumbled “thanks,” or no response at all. It is even more disturbing to go out of your way for someone and have them act as if we owed them.

We do not just want praise; we want others to recognize the effort we put in. Is God angered when we ignore His kindness?

I sometimes wonder how God feels when He blesses us richly, but we fail to notice or thank Him. Sometimes we do not show Him the common courtesy we expect from other people. When Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned to express gratitude, Jesus noticed the missing nine.

Thanksgiving should characterize our entire lives. It should be a natural part of our character to notice what others do for us and thank them. Showing appreciation to a restaurant server or a store clerk goes a long way. If we look for opportunities to thank others, we will begin to realize just how much people do for us.

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Why Do Some Struggle to Give Thanks?

Pride and Entitlement. Some people are not thankful because they have an exalted self-perception (pride) and see no need for God. They feel no debt of gratitude to Him. Others are dissatisfied with how their lives turned out and refuse to look for the good things they could thank God for.

These people complain that things are not going their way, trapping themselves in self-imposed misery. They cannot find blessings in adversity (hard times). By contrast, truly thankful people have a deep sense of gratitude for what God has done. They wonder why He cares so much for them.

Forgetfulness. Some people bring their requests to God but forget to thank Him for His answers. In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to give Him thanks.

Remember, no one can hear the thankfulness you forget to speak. Get into the habit of thanking people immediately so that you do not forget.

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How Can We Become More Thankful?

1. Consider How You Have Been Blessed

When things go wrong, we are quick to ask, “Why me?” We wonder why we are sick, facing financial issues, or dealing with job loss. But we rarely ask “Why me?” when it comes to our blessings:

• “Why was I born in a country with great freedoms, including the freedom to worship God?”
• “Why was I blessed with family and friends who taught me the gospel?”
• “Why do I live in a place with modern medical care, letting me live a long, healthy life?”
• “Why do I sleep in peace, without the sound of gunshots or sirens outside?”
• “Why can I read, when hundreds of millions of people around the world cannot?”
• “Why can I ask ‘What’s for dinner?’ when millions go hungry every day?”
• “Why do I own a Bible in my native language, when for centuries Bibles were kept only by wealthy elites?”

These questions remind us that we are far more blessed than we could possibly imagine.

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2. Make Thankfulness Part of Daily Prayer

According to Philippians 4:6-7, thanksgiving should be a standard part of our daily prayers. Notice that thanksgiving is directly linked with supplication (earnestly pleading or asking for something).

We should not hesitate to bring our requests to God, but we must remember to thank Him. We should thank Him for listening, for His wisdom in answering, and for whatever response we receive.

According to Colossians 2:2, we are to be vigilant (watchful and alert) in prayer with thanksgiving. Gratitude should not be occasional, and we should not need a reminder to show it. We should constantly be aware of the blessings surrounding us.

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3. Practice Thankfulness at Home

Gratitude should fill our households. Spouses should thank each other often for the little things they do. Thank your spouse for their partnership, their work around the house, and their support.

Never forget common courtesies: say thank you when they pass the food, open a door, or help with a chore.

Parents must teach children by example. Thank your kids for their help, their creative drawings, or just for being themselves. Point out specific things they do well.

Parents and teachers encourage kids to say “please” and “thank you” early in life. We must continue practicing this lesson as adults.

Children should thank their parents often. Parents sacrifice a great deal to provide shelter, food, and opportunities for their children.

Thank your parents when they cook a meal, drive you to activities, or help you with schoolwork. Most importantly, thank them for teaching you about God and helping you grow into a kind person.