AVOID THE NOID? TODAY’S ATTITUDES? UNTHANKFULNESS.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
We live in a day where so many are living in a life style of SELF-ABSORPTION and demanding ENTITLEMENTS.
Text:
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:1 (MSG) Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.
*UNGRATEFUL, UNTHANKFUL: unhappy, no joy, disagreeable, unpleasant, not giving thanks, unappreciative…
THINK ABOUT ATTITUDES? There are two daily life attitudes.
Those that fuss and grumble that roses have thorns. Then there are those that appreciate God gave thorns roses. Fear, worry, stress and heart aches can grow and thrive in the soil of thankfulness. Maybe we need to learn and identify the byproducts that thankfulness and stress place on our homes and our churches. Things that kill being thankful attitudes are stress, fear, doubt and worry. What am I doing for me seems to be the dominant question of today? Perhaps we need to refocus our attention on what am I doing for God?
Are you the kind of person that ignites and rekindles the flame of thanksgiving in others? Today many carry buckets with the bottom cut out. How often do you brag on others? How often do you say THANK YOU! One of the prevailing traits of the last days will be UNTHANKFUL ATTITUDES. You owe me? I deserve better? We have a sense of GIVE ME, GIVE ME… I AM entitled to this?
THE PRODIGAL SON HAD A BAD ATTITUDE… HE DEMANDED OF HIS FATHER, SO THE SON SAID: DAD, DON’T YOU THINK IT IS TIME TO GIVE ME “MY SHARE” OF YOUR ESTATE?
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
LIFE’S ATTITUDES CHANGE WHEN THE SON WASHES OFF THE STINK OF THIS WORLD. THE PRODIGAL HAS A NEW ATTITUDE. WHEN HE COMES HOME HE IS SAYING: “MAKE ME AS A SERVANT.” I SUBMIT…
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
WHEN OUR GRIEVANCES OUT NUMBER OUR BLESSING WE WILL WALK IN AN ATTITUDE OF ME! IS GRATITUDE ESSENTIAL FOR JOY AND HAPPINESS? ARE WE AS THANKFUL AS WE SHOULD BE? ARE WE OFTEN UNGRATEFUL, UNTHANKFUL?
MOSES KNEW THERE WAS A SOLUTION TO THEIR NEGATIVE COMPLAINING AND GRIPING --- YOU HAVE TO LOOK UP… LOOK UP AND LIVE
Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
A THANKFUL HEART IS LIKE A MAGNET THAT FINDS METAL OR IRON… Being thankful will acknowledge God’s goodness and His blessings. Part of any honest prayer will be thanksgiving. Do people feel better when you leave than when you come?
WHERE THERE IS THANKFULNESS YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND JOY. When any believer starts counting their blessings their whole life will turn for the better. Any good prayer life is based on GIVING THANKS.
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ARE TOXIC… THEY HURT AND HARM…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ARE VERY MOODY, UP AND DOWN… DRAMA QUEENS…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE CAN BE VERY MEAN AND CRUEL…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ARE NEVER WRONG, THEY REFUSE TO SAY I AM SORRY…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ARE JUDGMENTAL AND VERY CRITICAL…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE A VICTIM, EVERYONE PICKS ON ME… THE WORLD IS NOTHING BUT BULLIES… NEVER VICTORIOUS
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS COMPLAINERS…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ONLY WANT YOU WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE FEEL FRUSTRATION AND ANGER…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ARE OFTEN BITTER NEVER BETTER…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE HAVE NO CONTENTMENT …
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE DEMAND THEIR ENTITLEMENTS…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE SAY: GIVE ME, GIVE ME…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE SAY IT IS ALL ABOUT ME. THEY HAVE ALL NEW FRIENDS, NO OLD ONES…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE TRY TO MANIPULATE OTHERS OFTEN BY THEIR TEMPER FITS...
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE ALWAYS BLAME THE CIRCUSTANCES OR OTHER PEOPLE…
UNTHANKFUL PEOPLE THROW UP A LOT, THEY NEVER FORGIVE AND THEY REMEMBER ALL THE HURT…
CONCLUSION: BE HONEST HAVE WE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BECOME CHRONIC COMPLAINERS? DAILY FAULT-FINDERS? AND LOUD GRUMBLERS? THERE IS A GREAT SIN THAT THRIVES AMONG US. IT IS A LAST DAY SIGNAL TO AVOID. With what are you in love? The more thankful you are the more love, joy and patience you will grow. Patience easily grows in the soil of thankfulness. YOUR ATTITUDES WILL DETERMINE YOUR DAILY LIFE STYLE.
Can we accept that ungratefulness and unthankfulness can be a terrible sin that brings God’s judgments down and it becomes a trap.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
We give thanks over our food? Do we give thanks for running water? Electricity? Air conditioning? Garbage pickup?
Paved roads? Law enforcement? Rain? Sunshine? The church? Reasonable health? Can we admit that an attitude of unthankfulness can grow into a spiritual problem? Thanksgiving is a discipline. Humans are habitual beings we will grow a habit of unthankfulness or giving thanks, your choice. Give thanks to God! Give thanks to your family! Give thanks to people. DO YOU LOVE LIFE?
There were 10 healed, but the THANKFUL ONE WAS MADE WHOLE. The Samaritan, the stranger touched Jesus…
Luke 17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Let us go back to the Master to thank Him for all his blessings.
Conclusion:
I am told if you catch a three inch shark and place it in a small aquarium it will always stay three inches long. If you put the same shark in a larger aquarium it will grow to be a foot long. If you return the shark to the ocean it can grow to be 8 feet long.
May I suggest the more thankful and appreciative you are the more you will grow. Make time for others. Encourage other people. Hang around with encouraging and energizing people. We must focus beyond today’s stresses and worries. Praise God.
What can I do to polish my encouragement skills? Let us set our sights and aim to be a people encourager,
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
I would love to hear from you.
