The Bible Edge
Thank You Lord
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Have you ever been thankful for being thankful? Please let that question percolate in your mind for a moment. After all, what kind of world would it be with no thankfulness? Just as God created love, grace, mercy, imagination, and all the rest, He created thankfulness.
Without the ability to give thanks individuals would never understand their importance in our lives. Nor would we be able to show appreciation to others. Probably we would be so self-centered that we couldn’t stand ourselves much less others or understand what it is to be grateful. How would one be able to let the Lord God know of our gratitude for His unspeakable gift of eternal life, or answered prayers, or forgiveness of sins, or for his eternal undeserved grace and mercy?
Yes, indeed, the world would be bleak with no thankfulness. Of that world, I was going to say we can only imagine. But unfortunately, throughout life all have been acquainted with individuals who are absolutely void of being thankful to anyone for anything. They are their own object of praise and every good thing that anyone does for them they expect that they should do. Pride prohibits them the extension of a heartfelt thank you because that would indicate weakness and humility by praising another. They would be reduced and the other would be elevated. Giving thanks to others would be beneath them, after all others are only there to serve their needs, wants, and desires. These types of people ultimately grow bitter because they never receive anything they don’t deserve as they believe that they deserve everything just by being. Loneliness is their future, as they will be cloaked in isolation.
The words “thank you” are a good start, but a sincere heartfelt thank you will cost something. Time and humility are on the unseen price tag for true giving of thanks. The purchase of a card, the price of a stamp, and the cost of a gift each cost money. Yes, thanking others always costs something. Few are willing to endure the cost to meaningfully convey their thankfulness to another.
Now that you’ve thought a little about the importance of thankfulness, aren’t you thankful to God for allowing you to be thankful? What a wonderful aspect of life that God created for us to both give and receive. Thank you, Lord, for thankfulness.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
Comments