Barriers to Thanksgiving
1. Sam asked Tom for loan of $2,000...Tom said "positively no"
a. In 1928 when your business dropped, who gave you $10,000 to keep you from being wiped out? "you did"
b. In 1931, who took your daughter to Florida because you couldn?t get away? "you did"
c. In 1933, who dove into rapids to save you from drowning? "you did"
d. Why won?t you lend me $2000 when I need it?
e. Tom said, "all you said is true...but what have you done for me lately?"
2. So essential to spiritual health that Paul classed ingratitude among deadliest sins. Rom 1:21 ; 2 Tim 3:2
3. Yet, as one man who gave away millions commented: "don?t look for gratitude except in the dictionary"
Contrast: Scholar Matthew Henry robber. In diary. ?Let me be thankful 1st, because I have never been robbed before. 2nd, Though he took my purse he did not take my life. 3rd, Though he took my all it was not much. 4th, because it was I who was robbed and not someone else.
4. Why are people so ungrateful?
a. Why so difficult to say "thank you" and really mean it?
b. let?s notice some things which are barriers to thankfulness:
Lk. 17:11 ¶ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus? feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no-one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (NIV)
Rom. 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (NIV)
Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (NIV)
2 Tim. 1 ¶ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (NIV)
Barrier #1 - THOUGHTLESSNESS
1- It?s interesting: "THINK" and "thank" come from same Anglo-Saxon root word.
a. often we are ungrateful because we just don?t think (what God has done & evidences.)
2- Like the HOG at at a feeding trough never looking up to see where they are coming from.
3- Thankfulness comes out of a realization of BLESSINGS.
Ps.103:1 ¶ Of David. Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle?s. (NIV)
4- Five blessing in these verses?
(1) FORGIVENESS (2) healing (3) redemption (4) compassion (5) SATISFACTION
Barrier #2 - FAITHLESSNESS
1. Giving thanks is the spontaneous expression of genuine faith and belief in GOD.
(* The person who refuses to believe, can?t really be thankful - He trusts in himself!)
Rom. 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (NIV)
Ps. 105:1 ¶ Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, (NIV)
2. Poor WORSHIP attendance is because poor faith.
3. Poor RESPONSE to God is due to poor faith in God.
Barrier #3 - DISCONTENT (Many suffer from the "thanks..BUT" syndrome.)
1. Before we can genuinely be thankful, we must develop CONTENTMENT,
1 Tim 6:6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (NIV)
2. Consider what pilgrims had to be grateful for.
a. 46 had died (102 started the voyage on the Mayflower)
b. only 3 couples escaped death of one of the partners
c. only a FEW (minimum) personal possessions.
d. Survival made them aware of how PRECIOUS their meager blessings were!
3. Learn with Paul,
Phil. 4:11 ?I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (NIV)
Barrier #4 - SELFISHNESS
1. Those who have been blessed by God must learn to be a BLESSING.
2. Parable of the Debtor. Matt 18:23-35
Mt. 18:28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!? he demanded. 29 "His fellow-servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.? 30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. (NIV)
a. 10,000 talents = $10 MILLION/150,000 years of labor. (15 years labor = 1 talent)
b. 100 denari = $18.00/100 days worth of labor
(His lack of mercy demonstrated his ingratitude!)
CONCLUSION:
1. Jesus told about healing 10 leapers.."where are the nine?", Lk 17:11-19
2. Let?s resolve to be thankful people.
3. Must begin with little things (most say "thank you" for big things)
PRAYER: ALTAR CALL
If you don?t have what you want, be thankful for the things you don?t have that you don?t want.
4. Have you shown your appreciation to God for what He has done??
a. Are you a Christian?
b. Do you worship regularly?
c. Do you pray regularly?
d. Do you forgive others?
e. Are you a blessing to others?
TO BE THANKFUL, RESOLVE TO BE:
1- Thoughtful,
2- Faithful,
3- Content,
4- Selfless.
