Articles
Thankful, or Ungrateful?
Our society is one that is materially wealthy, but poor spiritually. Personal income is at an all-time high, but fewer and fewer people regularly take time out to worship, and the number of people who identify with any religious beliefs at all is at an all-time low.
The increase of material wealth seems to be inversely proportional to the decrease in interest in spiritual matters, and we really should not be surprised at the trend; this is the way man usually behaves. Long ago, a man who was wise asked the Lord not to give him riches, “Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’” (Prov. 30:8, 9). Studies within our lifetime have shown that those who are wealthier [materially] tend to believe in God and worship Him less than those who have less material wealth. It seems material gain causes us to start trusting in self, rather than in God, and we start thinking we really don't need God.
I probably don't have to remind you of the story Jesus once told about a foolish rich man, whose “ground…yielded plentifully.” This man “thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry”’” (Luke 12:17-19). As you may remember, too, the man died that very night and his riches would be enjoyed by someone else (Luke 12:20). He was called a fool by God because he trusted in himself and had no thought for God or even his fellow man.
Many people will die materially wealthy, but having laid up for themselves no treasures in heaven — just like this foolish rich man. Like this foolish rich man, many trust in themselves or in those riches, and they are always disappointed because they can be stolen, fall apart, or become worthless, and though men try so hard to build up those riches, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim. 6:7). As we say today, "You can't take it with you!" Even though some think, "He who dies with the most toys wins," the truth is, "He who dies with the most toys is just as dead as the one without any toys." As the wise writer so plainly stated, “the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others” (Psa. 49:10). Material wealth will not excuse us from the certainty of death and judgment (Heb. 9:27), but so many do try!
The thing we must strive for is contentment with whatever we have, and gratefulness for all things and in all situations. We have probably all witnessed people who have been handed wealth because they were born into it, and who then showed no respect to the one who gave it to them and showed no wisdom in how they handled the abundance. Let that not be said of us regarding something of infinitely greater value. God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), so how should we respond.
Recognize The Greatness of the Gift. The measure of God's gift to us is truly priceless. To try and comprehend this, consider a few points. First, Jesus once asked, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26); the implication is that everything on earth could not buy us salvation. With that in mind, now think about how much it would take to pay for the salvation of all men of all time! Truly, that price is immeasurable.
The gift of God is eternal life (cf. Rom. 6:23b), and how could that value be measured? Is that something we could purchase? Some think so! I'm told there are three companies that will take your money [from $28,000 + proceeds from your insurance policy to $115,000] and promise to freeze your body when you die, with the stated potential to [at some point in the future] bring you back to life, ostensibly to live forever. [I'd only charge you $10,000, and produce the same results.] The purpose of these companies is to play off the desire of some to live forever, making promises that they cannot honestly ensure will be fulfilled, or even possible. Despite no true assurance their desires will be met, about 300 have already been frozen and about another 1500 or so are signed up to have it done when they die. A lot of people are going to be severely disappointed, and some are already regretting their decisions.
Throughout history, there have been various myths of some 'fountain of youth' or 'water of life' that was said to be hidden away from civilization, but whose waters were the source of eternal life. No one ever found that, either, and mainly because these things are myths — there is no source of eternal life anywhere or in anyone else but God. Let us recognize the great gift of God for what it is!
Recognize The Price Paid. Recognizing the greatness of the gift, we must then acknowledge the great price paid that we might have that gift. Yes, I know a gift is something freely given, but it was free to us; it wasn't without a cost, however. It cost Jesus pain, suffering, torture — and His life.
Jesus did not have to leave heaven to come to this earth, live as a man, and be cruelly tortured and crucified. But He did. He, “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9), and set aside the glory of being God and came “in the likeness of men…humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-8). He owed us nothing, but instead “loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:2). Salvation was bought not with any material thing, “but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:19).
Recognize This Was All Done, Though We Were Undeserving. The fact God had a plan for our salvation in place before were even created tells us something about the love God had for us and how much He wanted us to be with Him in eternity. The very meaning of grace is 'unmerited favor' — a beneficial act shown to someone who did not deserve it. It was God's grace that set in place a means of our forgiveness and a promise of eternal life in heaven (1 John 2:25). What man 'deserved' that?!?!? [None!] We were all sinners (Rom. 3:23), and it was in this state that Christ was sent to die for us (Rom. 5:8).
We didn't deserve that, but He offered it, anyway!
Be Thankful! This is the reality of God's gift of forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. It is the greatest gift any man could ever hope to receive, the greatest price was paid for it, and all this was done to an undeserving people [you and me]. With that in mind, how should any man respond?
We are wise if we recognize the greatness of the gift, recognize the high price that was paid for us to be able to have such a gift, and recognize God did this though no man deserved it — and appreciate God's love and are thankful. Our thanks should be shown not only in receiving the gift [by submitting to His will], but by how we live and how we continue to value that gift after we have received forgiveness.
Let us treat it as the priceless gift it is, and not ever take it for granted. Let us not waste this offer of forgiveness and salvation by continuing to live for this world; let us live a thankful life. —— Steven Harper
