Thankfulness — The Great Antidote
James 4:6 – "But he gives more grace. Therefore, it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
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ILLUSTRATION: The Proud Lion
The lion was proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom. One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he by-passed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear.
"Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear replied, "Why you are, of course" The lion gave a mighty roar of approval.
Next, he asked the tiger, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The tiger quickly responded, "Everyone knows that you are, mighty lion "
Next on the list was the elephant. The lion faced the elephant and addressed his question, "Who is the king of the jungle?"
The elephant immediately grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him around in the air five or six times and slammed him into a tree. Then he pounded him onto the ground several times, dunked him under water in a nearby lake, and finally dumped him out on the shore.
The lion--beaten, bruised, and battered--struggled to his feet. He looked at the elephant through sad and bloody eyes and said, "Look, just because you don’t know the answer is no reason for to get mean about it!"
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Good morning, Church!
I want to begin by asking a question that every believer must wrestle with: What is the antidote for pride?
Pride is one of the most dangerous and deceptive sins in the Christian life. It hides in the corners of our hearts, whispering lies like, "You don’t need help. You’ve got this. You deserve more. You’re in control."
It inflates our sense of self and distorts our relationship with God and others.
But today, I want to share with you a powerful antidote for pride — one that is both simple and profound: thankfulness. Not only is thankfulness the cure for pride, but it is also the very essence of true worship.
When we understand this, we see that thankfulness has the power to reorient our hearts, humble our spirits, and turn our worship into something that pleases God. In fact, thankfulness is central to worship because it shifts our focus from ourselves to God, from entitlement to gratitude, and from self-sufficiency to dependence.
So, let’s explore today how thankfulness is both the antidote for pride and the essence of worship — how it humbles us and draws us closer to God.
We’re going to look at 3 points this morning:
I. Pride Blinds Us
II. Pride Leads to Discontentment
III. Pride Distracts Us
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ILLUSTRATION: The Farmer and the Storm
Thomas was a successful farmer who had worked tirelessly to build up his farm. The fields were large, the crops abundant, and the barns full. Over the years, he grew confident in his abilities, relying more and more on his own strength. He often boasted, "I made this farm all that is – it’s all because of my hard work."
One summer day, a powerful storm arrived. The storm was far worse than he expected. The rain poured, the winds howled, and by morning, Thomas’s farm was devastated. His fields were flooded, his crops ruined, and parts of his barn collapsed. The damage was overwhelming.
For days, Thomas worked to restore his farm, but he soon realized that no amount of effort could have prepared him for this.
One of his neighbors came by to help. “We can’t control the storms, Thomas,” he said. “It’s good to remember that we’re not in charge of everything.“
After the storm, Thomas didn’t just rebuild his farm; he rebuilt his perspective on life. He learned humility, recognizing that he couldn’t do it all on his own, and he began to appreciate the help of others and the grace of God.
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I. Pride Blinds Us to Our Dependence on God
Pride is rooted in self-reliance. When we are prideful, we believe that everything we have and everything we are comes from our own efforts, abilities, or accomplishments. We forget that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God.
In Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Moses warns the Israelites:
"Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth."
A prideful person forgets God. We think we’re self-sufficient and that we deserve what we have. But thankfulness puts life into focus. It reminds us that all we have is a gift from God — "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).
When we are thankful, we see that our talents, our health, our families, and our very lives are gifts from God. This recognition brings perspective to our lives and it humbles us, expelling pride and opening our hearts to worship.
Thankfulness is the essence of worship because it forces us to look to God and acknowledge our dependence on Him. When we give thanks, we worship. Thankfulness brings us into the presence of the One who is worthy of all glory.
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ILLUSTRATION: The Tale of Two Artists
In a small village by the sea, two artists, Emma and Clara, were known for their talent. Emma was confident in her unique style, while Clara often compared herself to others, especially Emma.
When the village hosted an art exhibition, both artists entered. Emma’s artwork displayed a serene landscape of the sea, while Clara chose to paint a dramatic stormy ocean.
At the exhibition, the villagers admired Emma’s peaceful landscape. Clara overheard them saying, “It’s so calming. It’s perfect.” Her pride flared as she thought, my painting is more complex and it’s better. Why do they prefer hers?
When the winner was announced, Emma’s painting took first place. Clara’s jealousy deepened. As she walked home, she passed Emma’s house, where she found her quietly enjoying the quiet evening — not worrying about the exhibition, but simply appreciating the beauty of the moment.
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II. Pride Leads to Comparison and Discontentment
Pride often manifests itself through comparison. It leads us to look at others and wonder why they have more — more success, more talent, more recognition — and this creates discontentment in our hearts. We start to think that we deserve what others have, or worse, we think we are entitled to more than we have.
— Lao Tzu "A contented man is never poor, and a discontented man is never rich."
Thankfulness shifts our focus. When we are grateful, we stop measuring ourselves by others’ standards and start focusing on what God has already given us. Instead of looking at what we lack, we begin to celebrate what we have — the people, the opportunities, the health, the blessings — all from God's hand.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:12, "Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding."
The greatest comparison trap we fall into is comparing ourselves to God. God’s purpose for us isn’t to compete with Him, but to reflect His glory in our own way. True peace comes when we stop comparing and embrace who we are in Him.
Thankfulness frees us from the trap. It allows us to rejoice in God's goodness without needing to measure up to anyone else. True worship comes when we stop worrying about what we don’t have and start thanking God for what He has already provided.
Thankfulness helps us see that we are already rich in Christ. It is turning our eyes off of ourselves and onto the One who has given us everything we need.
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ILLUSTRATION: No Airplane
During the days when Mohammed Ali was a great boxer, he would go around in his arrogance and say that, "He was the greatest." Humility was never his strong suit. One day, back in his prime, he was on an airplane and the plane was ready to take off and the flight attendant had repeatedly told him to put on his seat belt.
He finally told her, "I’m superman and superman don’t need no seatbelt." The flight attendant didn’t hesitate a minute but shot back with, "Superman don’t need no airplane either, now buckle up."
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III. Pride Distracts Us from God’s Glory
Pride distorts our view of God. It convinces us that our desires, our ambitions, our achievements, and our struggles are what matter most. Pride whispers, "You deserve recognition, you deserve praise."
What happens to pride when you are thankful? Worship — expressed through thankfulness — is the antidote for pride. It shifts our gaze from self to God. We are reminded that we exist for His glory.
Psalm 115:1 says, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness."
True worship exalts God and recognizes His greatness, goodness, and majesty. We acknowledge that all we have comes from Him, and in thanksgiving we turn our hearts to give Him glory. Thankfulness is the essence of worship and it forces us to see that God is the source of everything good in our lives.
Instead of thinking "I deserve," thankfulness leads us to say, "God is worthy." It humbles our pride and elevates God in our hearts and lives. This is the essence of worship — it’s a life of gratitude that seeks to honor God, not ourselves.
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ILLUSTRATION: Two Mountain Goats
Martin Luther wrote about seeing two mountain goats meeting on a mountain trial that was narrow enough for only one to travel on.
When they met up, Luther thought for sure they would butt heads and the strongest would survive. One would die and one would be injured.
Instead, when the mountain goats met, one laid down and let the other walk over him so they both could live.
It’s this selflessness that Jesus is telling us to take as Christians.
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IV. Thankfulness Breaks the Grip of Pride
When pride and ambition are allowed to take root, they corrupt the soul, for pride closes the heart to the endless blessings of Heaven. The one who seeks self-glorification will find themselves empty of God’s grace, which is the source of true wealth and lasting joy. But the person who surrenders all to Christ and lives for His glory will experience the fullness of God's promise.
Proverbs 10:22. "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it."
Matthew 11:29. “Learn of me,” said Christ; “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
When we embrace thankfulness, we are embracing humility. In that humility, God’s grace flows freely into our lives.
Thankfulness does more than just break the power of pride; it is an act of worship. When we are thankful, we are worshipping God by acknowledging His goodness, His provision, and His sovereignty over our lives. Every time we give thanks, we are offering worship — not just in our words, but in the posture of our hearts.
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In Conclusion:
Pride is a destructive force.
Augustine wrote this: "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."
Thankfulness is the powerful antidote that can break the grip of pride.
When we choose thankfulness,
we are reminded of our dependence on God,
we are freed from the trap of comparison,
and we reorient our hearts toward God’s glory.
Most importantly, thankfulness is the essence of worship —
it is the way we acknowledge God’s goodness, love, and grace in our lives.
So today, let us examine our hearts.
Let us humble ourselves with a heart of gratitude, remembering that every good thing we have comes from God.
Let thankfulness be the foundation of our worship, allowing it to transform our lives.
As we give thanks, we worship.
As we worship, we humble ourselves before the One who deserves all glory and honor.
May our hearts overflow with thankfulness,
may it lead us deeper into true worship.
Amen